Newly renovated Azalea Café officially opens at University Hospital
Modern seating, new food stations and wider offerings now are available to visitors and employees at the University Hospital Azalea Café.
Ruby Hoppins arrived early Monday for her 5 a.m. shift at USA Health University Hospital, where she has worked for 14 years serving meals in the cafeteria.
Hoppins was excited to be the designated ribbon-cutter for the unveiling of the newly remodeled Azalea Café on the hospital’s second floor. “I’m just overwhelmed,” she said after using 3-foot-long scissors to slice through the blue ribbon. “I felt very special today.”
The café renovation project, a partnership between University Hospital and Morrison Healthcare, was launched in April with the goal of providing a more modern space and a wider variety of healthy food choices at the hospital.
“We wanted to do something bigger and better,” said Sam Dean, hospital administrator. “We’re excited to be able to provide this modern dining experience for our visitors and also for the employees who eat here every day.”
Rosemary White, M.B.A., assistant administrator for USA Health, said the Azalea Café provides “a new look and a new direction.”
The Azalea Café offers new, more efficient seating, including more tables for small groups and bar seating with charging stations -- all in modern blue and brown hues. Newly expanded food service areas now include a hot meal line, a salad bar and wrap station, an “action” station with a revolving international menu and a new, much larger grill area. In addition, customers can use a kiosk to place grill orders and pay for them electronically.
“It’s a great addition to all of the other advancements at USA Health,” said administrative assistant Susie Smith as she perused the new space.
The hot meal line on Monday featured a Thai chili bowl with fried rice, eggrolls, chicken, shrimp and Thai vegetables and toppings. Nearby, the Greek Street action station offered made-to-order Greek salads and pita sandwiches.
In addition to the serving stations, the café’s coolers hold bottled drinks and ready-to-eat snacks, sandwiches and desserts. Fruit and other prepackaged items such as cereals, chips, nuts and pretzels are available on shelves for quick purchase.
