Services

Creating Menus with WOW!

Real Food is at the core of what we do

Each day, we serve lots of hungry people, and we draw on our years of diverse experience to make sure there’s something for everyone – regardless of culture, age, dietary restrictions or personal preferences. This means we are constantly learning, watching, refining, experimenting and many of our ideas come from you. Our systems and processes help our Chefs customize, plan and serve balanced, variety-filled menus each day. They also streamline tasks allowing more time for creativity, sourcing and our guests. And, unlike large contractors, we actually encourage our Chefs to bring in local ingredients and to make substitutions to reduce waste for everyone.

Real Food is at the core of what we do

Each day, we serve lots of hungry people, and we draw on our years of diverse experience to make sure there’s something for everyone – regardless of culture, age, dietary restrictions or personal preferences. This means we are constantly learning, watching, refining, experimenting and many of our ideas come from you. Our systems and processes help our Chefs customize, plan and serve balanced, variety-filled menus each day. They also streamline tasks allowing more time for creativity, sourcing and our guests. And, unlike large contractors, we actually encourage our Chefs to bring in local ingredients and to make substitutions to reduce waste for everyone.

Our EXPERTISE

The MG client list shows at least three things which we feel contribute to our operational strength for you: Our versatility – we provide a broad range of services: catering to dignitaries, operating busy dining rooms, managing restaurants, providing sit down meals for retirees – and a little bit of everything in between. Our culinary talent – we serve people of all ages, foods of all kinds, which means we must create popular, tasty, unique selections and constantly innovate.  Our people skills – we recruit, develop and support our people so our clients can rest assured we are in step with their values.

Our EXPERTISE

The MG client list shows at least three things which we feel contribute to our operational strength for you: Our versatility – we provide a broad range of services: catering to dignitaries, operating busy dining rooms, managing restaurants, providing sit down meals for retirees – and a little bit of everything in between. Our culinary talent – we serve people of all ages, foods of all kinds, which means we must create popular, tasty, unique selections and constantly innovate.  Our people skills – we recruit, develop and support our people so our clients can rest assured we are in step with their values.

Education

Most of our academic partnerships involve serving many mouths (from 400 – 1400) on a very tight schedule.  Serving a thousand students over the course of a couple of hours requires creativity, stamina, and a strong grip on operations.  It also means we must always look for ways to keep it interesting. We are known for bringing the latest restaurant trends and ethnic offerings into our menus, experimenting and chef-swapping along the way to keep it fun and flavorful.  And yet, we take very seriously our responsibility to make the dining room a classroom for wellness and nutrition.

Education

Most of our academic partnerships involve serving many mouths (from 400 – 1400) on a very tight schedule.  Serving a thousand students over the course of a couple of hours requires creativity, stamina, and a strong grip on operations.  It also means we must always look for ways to keep it interesting. We are known for bringing the latest restaurant trends and ethnic offerings into our menus, experimenting and chef-swapping along the way to keep it fun and flavorful.  And yet, we take very seriously our responsibility to make the dining room a classroom for wellness and nutrition.

Corporate CafÉs

Because our style is customized and detail oriented, versus purely volume driven, we have been a great fit for businesses and non‐profit organizations that want daily dining services and boutique catering.

Corporate CafÉs

Because our style is customized and detail oriented, versus purely volume driven, we have been a great fit for businesses and non‐profit organizations that want daily dining services and boutique catering.

Catering & Events

We got into this business because of Rie and Eddie Godsey’s love for catering.  For this reason, it remains a passion and focus for all of our dining partners and for individual clients.  Every meal should…in its own way…be treated like a catered event.  And what a great way to showcase our clients!  We go the extra mile to make our signature approach a strong marketing tool for all of our client communities.

Catering & Events

We got into this business because of Rie and Eddie Godsey’s love for catering.  For this reason, it remains a passion and focus for all of our dining partners and for individual clients.  Every meal should…in its own way…be treated like a catered event.  And what a great way to showcase our clients!  We go the extra mile to make our signature approach a strong marketing tool for all of our client communities.
NUTRITION

To provide food for the body and soul, we need to make sure we not only thoughtfully create menus and select ingredients, but we also provide our guests with information about how to make good choices.  Our Corporate Chefs and Registered Dietitians have years of experience providing cooking instruction and demonstration, classroom discussion, gardening how-to’s, for individuals, groups, young adults, and children.

Visit Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about our approach to a variety of nutrition-related topics, including allergies.

Meet Cate Smith- Corporate Chef

Cate’s passion for food and nutrition makes her an outstanding teacher and coach in these important areas.  Cate’s dynamic personality consistently wins her the praise of audiences small and large, young and senior.  She has taught in the areas of mindful eating, nutrition, food safety, allergies, etc. These courses are offered to ALL of our communities & internally as an additional resource for our employees.

NUTRITION

To provide food for the body and soul, we need to make sure we not only thoughtfully create menus and select ingredients, but we also provide our guests with information about how to make good choices.  Our Corporate Chefs and Registered Dietitians have years of experience providing cooking instruction and demonstration, classroom discussion, gardening how-to’s, for individuals, groups, young adults, and children.

Visit Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about our approach to a variety of nutrition-related topics, including allergies.

Meet Cate Smith
Corporate Chef

Cate’s passion for food and nutrition makes her an outstanding teacher and coach in these important areas.  Cate’s dynamic personality consistently wins her the praise of audiences small and large, young and senior.  She has taught in the areas of mindful eating, nutrition, food safety, allergies, etc. These courses are offered to ALL of our communities & internally as an additional resource for our employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

DINING SERVICES HEALTH & WELLNESS PROMISE

DINING SERVICES HEALTH & WELLNESS PROMISE

Meriwether Godsey is committed to the health and safety of our communities. 

This is our promise to you – 
In partnership with local government and health officials, we are committed to the following policies and practices:

  • Dining Staff will continue to make safety our number one priority through sanitation and safe food handling with increased vigilance
  • Dining Staff will be monitored daily for wellness
  • Dining staff will adhere to federal/state/local protective requirements, including mask guidelines and heightened utilization and rotation of gloves
  • All managers and supervisors are ServSafe certified and have completed Covid-19 training and certification
  • All tables, chairs and contact surfaces will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected regularly
  • All service areas and seating areas will comply with state social distancing guidelines
  • Hand sanitizer will be readily available to all guests and staff

For more information see Meriwether Godsey’s Infectious Disease Plan. 

Stay Safe, Be Well!

How Are We Able To Access Menus?

In our education accounts, weekly and daily menus are published either on the client website or on our dining website for the location. If you are interested in accessing menus for a specific location, please contact the Director of Dining Services for that location or Meriwether Godsey’s Corporate Office for assistance.

What’s the Difference Between an Allergy and an Intolerance?

A food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating certain foods. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. Allergies have the potential to be life-threatening in severe cases. An intolerance is generally less serious with the most common symptom being delayed digestive problems. Although this reaction is less severe it is something we take seriously as the health and well-being of our customers is our priority.

Do You Serve Tree nuts and/or Peanuts?

This varies by location as different communities have different preferences.  For example, in some locations, we don’t serve any nuts.  In others, we manage this by diligently flagging offerings that contain nuts with signage.  This same approach is used for other potential allergens.  In addition, all supervisory staff complete certified training on this topic specifically.

Do You Have Gluten Free Items?

Yes!  We offer daily gluten-free menu items to accommodate customers who need or want these.  We flag these offerings with signage to make it easy for our guests to navigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

DINING SERVICES HEALTH & WELLNESS PROMISE

DINING SERVICES HEALTH & WELLNESS PROMISE

Meriwether Godsey is committed to the health and safety of our communities. 

This is our promise to you – 
In partnership with local government and health officials, we are committed to the following policies and practices:

  • Dining Staff will continue to make safety our number one priority through sanitation and safe food handling with increased vigilance
  • Dining Staff will be monitored daily for wellness
  • Dining staff will adhere to federal/state/local protective requirements, including mask guidelines and heightened utilization and rotation of gloves
  • All managers and supervisors are ServSafe certified and have completed Covid-19 training and certification
  • All tables, chairs and contact surfaces will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected regularly
  • All service areas and seating areas will comply with state social distancing guidelines
  • Hand sanitizer will be readily available to all guests and staff

For more information see Meriwether Godsey’s Infectious Disease Plan. 

Stay Safe, Be Well!

How Are We Able To Access Menus?

In our education accounts, weekly and daily menus are published either on the client website or on our dining website for the location. If you are interested in accessing menus for a specific location, please contact the Director of Dining Services for that location or Meriwether Godsey’s Corporate Office for assistance.

What’s the Difference Between an Allergy and an Intolerance?

A food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating certain foods. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. Allergies have the potential to be life-threatening in severe cases. An intolerance is generally less serious with the most common symptom being delayed digestive problems. Although this reaction is less severe it is something we take seriously as the health and well-being of our customers is our priority.

Do You Serve Tree nuts and/or Peanuts?

This varies by location as different communities have different preferences.  For example, in some locations, we don’t serve any nuts.  In others, we manage this by diligently flagging offerings that contain nuts with signage.  This same approach is used for other potential allergens.  In addition, all supervisory staff complete certified training on this topic specifically.

Do You Have Gluten Free Items?

Yes!  We offer daily gluten-free menu items to accommodate customers who need or want these.  We flag these offerings with signage to make it easy for our guests to navigate.

CONTACT US

4944 Old Boonsboro Rd.
Lynchburg,VA 24503
434.384.3663

Human Resources
hr@merig.com

Want to talk Business?
partner@merig.com

CONTACT US

4944 Old Boonsboro Rd.
Lynchburg,VA 24503
434.384.3663

Human Resources
hr@merig.com

Want to talk Business?
partner@merig.com

Testimonials

Cooking from very early in the morning to late at night daily, having it be real food and fit everybody’s needs is very hard.
I feel very lucky to have such careful and caring chefs like you guys.
Student Foxcroft School
Student

The food is just incredible! I really mean it…I hope you know that I am not just saying this. It’s so colorful, fresh, and delicious…so special every day!”

Faculty Member 
Faculty Member

Just a note to say thank you for all of the delicious food you and your staff serve each day. I never knew kale could taste so good!

Administrator 
Administrator

Outstanding food, outstanding service, outstanding people. I brag about MG to my peers at other schools, and even to my friends and family!

Administrator 
Administrator

Thank you so much for all the gluten-free options this year! All of your staff have been so helpful. They make a point to come up to me at meals and let me know what options you have for that meal. Salads are great, but sometimes a warm meal is just what you need!

Faculty Member 
Faculty Member

Thanks for all of the good work you and your team did to ensure that last night’s welcome gathering for new faculty went off without a hitch. I’m so grateful for Team MG working so hard to make sure things are done the right way.

Head of School 
Head of School

I just want to thank you for always having such wonderful healthful choices that taste absolutely amazing! You have truly inspired my palate and given me new love for foods that were once far from comfort for me.

Guest 
Guest

Many times I find a favorite thing out of the many items served during lunch, and although the featured spinach and fruit salad was visually stunning; the SHOUT OUT winner of the day hands down was the very delicious unassuming Vegetarian Pinto Beans!!! The onions were glistening and the peppers served as a complimentary color to the two different shades of beans…I have one regret and that is I didn’t think to take a picture!

Administrator 
Administrator

Thank you for making pimento cheese today! It not only is divine, but also hit the spot. I now regret wasting 62.5 years of life on this planet in which I did not eat this heavenly mix. As I explore different recipes in my home kitchen I will try my best to live up to the standard demonstrated by what I had today.

Faculty Member 
Faculty Member

Everything was wonderful…as usual! The food was scrumptious…and the weather was gorgeous!

Conference Client 
Conference Client

I would not change a thing! Your staff was not only professional, but warm and caring. They truly set the tone for a memorable night. The food was delicious…our family and friends left with hearts and bellies full!

Catering Client 
Catering Client

Thanks for the delicious soup and the new harvest salad – and thanks for removing half the calories out of the Farm Basket brownie…haha.

Resident 
Resident

THANK YOU for your help today with the open house! Our visiting families raved about the personalized environment. We had a student tell us that Guilford went from his 3rd to 1st choice!

Administrator 
Administrator

Thank you for all of your hard work on the meals and breaks for the Alumnae Board. The food was outstanding; everyone raved about each meal. Favorites included the grits on Saturday morning and the butternut squash soup on Sunday. YUM!!!

Administrator 
Administrator