The Squire VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Summer 2026
Campers rejoice in Epicurean’s epic cafeteria comeback By Olivia Elsbernd Grade 8 St. Philip School Riordan changed the cafeteria food provider last school year, and this time, they brought back Epicurean. For the 2025 to 2026 school year, Epicurean Group replaced Culinart, the food provider for the 2024 to 2025 school year. Epicurean had been the food provider for more than two decades up until the switch. The decision to switch from Epicurean to Culinart was due to multiple factors. “We were looking for something fresh and a little bit new. I think we thought Epicurean was just comfortable but not necessarily as energetic about this job anymore. So we thought we would try this other group [Culinart] that Marin Catholic and Sacred Heart were also using,” explained Riordan President Tim Reardon. He added, “I have been extremely pleased with Epicurean’s new energy with regard to their partnership with Riordan.” Many Camp Crusader campers from 2025 remember the food from last summer. Parker Jones, a returning camper from St. Brendan’s Parish School, was disappointed in the quality of the food last year, but has noticed the jump in quality
Photo by The Squire Staff Camp Crusader campers enjoyed pasta and burritos for lunch. with the switch from Culinart back to Epicurean. When asked about the difference in the quality of the food, she said, “It got a lot better and the food is fresher because it’s made every morning, instead of being a while ago and packaged…” Jones added, “I think that when it’s prepared in the cafeteria kitchen, I feel like they put more care and they put more time into cooking, which makes the food so much better, which makes us all love the food.” Epicurean’s food wasn’t just preferred by campers, but also Riordan students who serve as Camp Crusader counselors.
“I thought it was alright… to be honest, I think that the school lunch this past year was slightly better,” said Miles Witte ’27, who specifically enjoys Epicurean’s cookies. The switch back to Epicurean was due to Culinart not being as on their game as Epicurean. “Unfortunately, Culinart did not deliver the level of service we expected,” said President Reardon. The switch back to Epicurean was announced in a Family Newsletter on Aug. 8, 2025, and has been seen as met with a positive response from both students and campers.