"Zi’s" the Day…Carpe Diem the Asian Way!

West Texas meets The Far East at Hospitality Services' newest dining trend.

Written by Tiffany Enderson

Zi, is located in Union Plaza in the Student Union Building and offers sushi, wok creations and traditional chef-inspired Asian entrées.

Remember when living in the residence halls came with running downstairs to eat “dorm” food in a hall with stainless steel tables and chairs, bare floors and white paint? When the food was take-it-or-leave-it, served in mass quantities, dine-in only and plopped on your plate?

You might be amazed at how far dining on campus has come. What was once a one-size-fits-all traditional board plan with inflexible serving hours and a blocked number of meals per week is now a savory dining experience, tailored to the needs and desires of our students. Students want to be able to watch the food being cooked before their eyes, carry it to their rooms when they need to, eat at 1:30 a.m. during a study break and eat fresh, healthy choices.

Texas Tech’s Hospitality Services offers all this and more as part of the university experience. The department stays on top of dining trends and updates its offerings accordingly.

Display cooking, a current dining trend, is featured in the newest Union Plaza food court concept, Zi. The concept serves up hand-rolled sushi, traditional chef-inspired Asian entrées and made-to-order, freshly tossed wok creations.

“Zi brings to the Texas Tech campus a fresh approach to Asian cuisine,” said Kirk Rodriguez, associate director for Hospitality Services. “Its signature and daily menu selections serve up an exciting and authentic taste that truly brings the Far East to West Texas!”

Zi is off to a very promising start, outselling all eateries in Texas Tech’s Student Union Building.

“Zi shows me that it is possible to create a brand that will rival manufacturer or national brands,” said Sam Bennett, managing director of Hospitality Services.

Hospitality Services promotes each student’s learning experience by nourishing the minds of tomorrow and serving a savory experience. Hospitality Services serves more than three million award-winning meals in two traditional dining halls, two food courts, five mini-markets, retail operations and catering services each academic year.