Chef Mai Pham’s Lemon Grass Kitchen opens at SUNY Oneonta

Google ‘pho’ in Oneonta, New York, chances are you won’t find that hearty bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup anywhere but at Mills Hall at SUNY-Oneonta.

Pronounced fuh-aaa’ (with a little drag at the end), it’s one of many delicious Southeast Asian dishes now available at the newly opened Lemon Grass Kitchen.

Created by celebrity Chef Mai Pham, this location of Lemon Grass Kitchen is the first to open in a Sodexo-managed residential dining operation.

“Students are absolutely ecstatic,” said Jimmy Hamm II, general manager of SUNY Oneonta Dining Services. “Our residential offerings are greatly enhanced with the addition of Lemon Grass Kitchen.”

Hamm says students today are increasingly food-savvy and many grew up eating a wide variety of cuisines and flavors. “This program delivers on the expectation that when they come to dine with us on campus, they can find big flavors, global cuisines, and great vegetarian options.”

“There is something for everyone. The food is cooked in small quantities and is always fresh and the pho station is my favorite. I will certainly be back,” said student Danielle Palmateer.

Unit Manager, Rich Babbit said “The appealing look, the distinctive sound of wok cooking and of course the succulent smell are indicative of great tasting food and the students are loving it”.

Chef Pham, who launched over 20 locations of her retail brand Star Ginger nationwide, saw the exciting opportunity in residential dining.

“We’re really fortunate to be partnering with the visionary team at Oneonta,” said Pham. “From noodle soups that we make in front of students, to the customizable rice bowls with Thai BBQ chicken, Korean beef, or lemongrass tofu, our food is crave-worthy, healthy and authentic. While our core is Vietnamese and Thai flavors, our menu cycle is quite expansive with dishes from Korea, Japan, Singapore and India.”

“We’re passionate about training,” said Tina Freedman, vice president of operations, who leads development and training for Lemon Grass Kitchen and Star Ginger. “We work very closely with our partners making sure the operation is set up for success.”

SUNY Oneonta Auxiliary Services and Sodexo teams spent the summer redesigning a corner servery into a brightly lit, high energy space. The back walls are adorned with striking images of noodle bowls and fresh herbs.

“The design touches, the cooking and the aromas of food -they all breathe new life,” said Rebecca Molloy, Operations Director of Dining Services. “The station has really transformed. Students are greeted with steaming pots of broths, sumptuous toppings, sizzling and crackling hot woks and an enticing display of savory specials of the day.”