Pizza Perfection: Devil's Den Debuts Delectable Dish
Wood-fired pizza and scratch-made, organic soup are now available at the Devils Den! Photo by Dan Loh.
New tasty, local eats now available in on-campus store
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
Nothing quite hits the spot like a delicious wood-fired pizza—especially when it’s served with a side of Dickinson pride. Now, you can reach that pizza nirvana without setting foot off campus, as mouthwatering College Farm pizza makes its debut at the Devil’s Den.
A favorite among Dickinsonians and locals alike, College Farm pizza often sells out at the weekly Farmers on the Square market and is a much-requested treat for special Dickinson events and at the farm’s downtown shopfront, Farm Works.
Starting this fall, you’ll find fully cooked pizzas—in classic and gluten-free varieties—in the frozen section of the Devil’s Den (lower level of the Holland Union Building). Conveniently, the Devil’s Den accepts all flex meal plans and personal declining balance, in addition to credit and debit cards and cash.
Previously a sold-out hit at the seasonal, weekly Farmers on the Square market, the farm's pizza is now available five days a week at the Devil's Den. Photo by Dan Loh.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” says Alex Arnold ’27, a German major, student farm worker and fan of the College Farm shop on West High Street. “It provides Farm Works an opportunity to reach a new base of students who either don’t know about the store or don’t find themselves on the east side of campus very often. And it’s a win for students to be able to access Farm Works products at a central location on campus with more flexible hours.”
Pizza, soup and more
According to Sonya Wright, dining services assistant director, last year’s Devil’s Den remodel made it possible for the on-campus store to add additional frozen items, like farm pizza. And, after experimenting with selling refrigerated Panera soups last year, the Devil’s Den now offers the more sustainable and fresh soup from the farm. Devil’s Den will also carry more fresh Dickinson farm produce this fall, including an array of local greens and herbs, as well as frozen, organic ground beef.
College Farm organic produce and fresh-made soups can be found in the refrigerated section. Photo by Dan Loh.
All of these tasty, wholesome additions reflect a longtime fruitful partnership between dining services and the College Farm. The farm has provided local, organic and sustainable produce to the dining hall—and has composted its food waste—for more than a decade. The farm also has partnered with dining services and other departments on special food-centric events. Upcoming collaborative initiatives include an Oktoberfest featuring farm burgers, brats and hand-cut fries, monthly cooking classes, campus pizza events and weekly volunteer opportunities.
The Devil's Den is expanding its fresh produce section as well. These vibrant veggies are straight from the College Farm. Photo by Dan Loh.
The Devil’s Den additions are also part of ongoing updates and enhancements of campus dining options. The first phase of multiyear renovation of the HUB is well underway; new and upcoming improvements include:
- an action island, expanding Dining Hall options at each meal
- new hot-food options in the "gluten-free zone"
- pilot run of a sustainable to-go program
- the Nutrislice menu program, providing nutritional and allergen information and more
- an upgraded pizza station
- acai at every meal
- a design refresh of the dining hall
- a new online ordering system for Union Station
- new drinks at the Biblio and Juice Bar (Underground).
There’s also a new executive chef at the helm and more dining enhancements planned for the spring.
Arnold expects the College Farm pizza initiative to be a particular hit with fellow students. “The reason it's so good is because all of the ingredients are high-quality, and the toppings come straight from the farm,” he says. “I'm really excited to get my first Farm Works pizza from the Devil‘s Den.”
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Published September 9, 2024