Johns Hopkins ranks fourth on list of nation's top colleges for food

The Homewood campus dining experience continues to wow the foodies at The Daily Meal: On its 2018 list of best colleges for food, Johns Hopkins University ranks No. 4—landing in the top 10 for the fifth year in a row and up two spots from No. 6 in 2017.

Each year, the website surveys more than 2,000 American colleges and ranks its favorites based on accessibility and service, nutrition and sustainability, education and events, the food scene near campus, and "the 'X' factor," which the editors describe as the little jaw-dropping extras that go above and beyond to get genuinely good food to students.

For 2018, its kudos for the Hopkins' dining experience—managed by Bon Appétit on the Homewood campus—include value, customization, a community vibe, and sustainable practices:

Located in the food-friendly city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins' dining services continue to shine by converting Nolan's on 33rd to an all-you-care-to-eat buffet for a greater value. Made-to-order stations are now available where students can customize their orders and get a text when the food is ready. Students can also choose from local vegan options, a create-your-own-pizza station, and a new late-night option at the LaB. Johns Hopkins also boasts a hotel-quality brunch, food and wine pairings for students of legal drinking age, themed monotony-breakers each month, and cooking classes in on-campus residences that focus on healthy eating. There are also monthly faculty and staff dinners with students to promote community-building, as well as weekly chef demonstrations, tastings, and samplings in retail locations.

Options served at the dining hall include manicotti puttanesca, house-smoked beef brisket sandwiches, rotisserie entrées and sides, and carved-to-order roasted meat sandwiches, so you will always be eating well at Johns Hopkins. Everything in the dining halls is made in small batches and from scratch, which not only gives students the freshest options available, but also reduces waste. Sustainability is very important on campus, which is why the dining services use compostable paper products and to-go packaging, and they compost all their food wastes and organic materials. JHU also only purchases cage-free eggs, hormone-free milk, and locally grown produce whenever possible. And if you are a student craving a late-night bite, stores on campus are open as late as 2 a.m.

Columbia University took top honors this year, up from No. 2 in 2017. The site's editors emphasize that its list of 75 finalists is made up of schools of all types, all sizes, and from all corners of the country. They also note that in general, every institution is paying more attention to diners' feedback, advances in technology, healthy options, and environmental awareness.