USC Gets New “Hogwarts” Vegan Dining Station

A new 8,000-square-foot dining hall was recently unveiled at the University of Southern California. The expansive hall—which students have compared to Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Academy due to its gothic aesthetic—features a new plant-based station that aligns with the school’s Menus of Change initiative, which was launched to promote reduced meat intake and higher consumption of plant-based food. “Everything there is vegan, down to the breads and the offerings that we give,” chef Nathan Martinez told student media outlet Daily Trojan. “My biggest thing on it is that it’s actually made for everybody to enjoy. I try to create flavors and profiles that anybody would want to eat on a regular basis and not realize they’re eating plant-based at the same time.” The new addition to the USC campus is in line with current dining preferences among college students. According to a survey conducted by the youth arm of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, vegan options across college campuses in the United States more than doubled in 2016 due to student demand.