You couldn’t miss us walking by. Wafting out from the Epicurean Group booth at the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) Annual Meeting, came rich smells of freshly made organic, non-GMO popcorn with organic white cheddar. Popcorn bags overflowed for school business leaders who came to the Los Angeles conference in search of inspiration and ideas on harnessing best business practices for the independent school market.

Food service was on the menu as attendees from Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey and across the country searched for ways to attract young students and make their school stand out. It was exciting to connect with our existing clients in person and to make new connections. Between the crunch and yum of cheddared kernels, questions flowed freely.

Does Epicurean Group service the east coast?

We operate in California, Oregon, Washington state, Colorado, Minnesota and continue with focus to build accounts on the east coast.

How does Epicurean Group services integrate with the school?

We believe in cultivating community with our clients – building and retaining connection, and collaboration is what Epicurean Group is all about. We look for a values match with new partners; for starters – is local and fresh food important to you? We enjoy the challenge of understanding client needs and customizing their model without compromising values. With new clients, the work happens in stages; it can take a few months or even an entire year to integrate with the school fully. Epicurean Group takes you through the steps with resources supporting your goals.

How does Epicurean Group get feedback about the food?

Updates to menus are based on student feedback and soft surveys. At least twice a year, our What’s Hot? What’s Not? campaign asks students what dishes they really love and which ones need improvement. All that data becomes the drivers for upcoming menus.

Can you accommodate students with food restrictions and allergies?

Yes, we customize our accounts to work for everyone. Daily we offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten, and dairy-free options. All our school kitchens are nut-free.

Can you incorporate an onsite garden into your menus? 

Our chefs welcome that opportunity! We have an extensive program at San Domenico in northern California with a 1-acre garden that is part of the curriculum and the kitchen. We also have the resources to guide clients toward professionals who can help set up and maintain your onsite garden.

Can you deliver and transport food onto campus?  

Let’s talk. Depending on logistics, we may be able to transport but we prefer onsite preparation. This assures the freshest outcome and allows us to become part of your school community.

What makes Epicurean Group special

Many groups say they are sustainable and organic, but we do it, and we have the awards to back it up. We are committed to managing, measuring, and improving sustainable practices in our food service production, supply chain, and partnerships. The GEELA award recognizes our efforts in recycling and food waste reduction, and all kitchens take our Sustainability Pledge.
​Epicurean Group has been a leader in green initiatives for years: we built the first LEEDS-certified commercial kitchen. Never a cookie-cutter service; we customize our relationship to your preferences and vision. Boutique and nimble, we are big enough to support your network of needs but agile enough to move quickly with changes and new requests.

Epicurean Group serves fresh, honest, and local food with less processed oils, fats, and sugars… and we make it taste really good! Real food of superb quality contributes to better student performance and mental health. Healthy students are happy students.