The Talley Student Union received a warm welcome from the N.C. State community Monday when the building’s newest addition opened, kicking off a week-long celebration.

With the opening of One Earth World Cuisine, the newest dining option at Talley Student Union, N.C. State students should expect new dishes and fresher, healthier food, along with another Port City Java. 

Some students, such as Owen Hammer, a junior in computer science, said they were impressed by One Earth even though they expected the food to be average at best.

“I was not expecting that,” Hammer said. “I thought it would be mediocre, but it was actually pretty good. It surprised me.”

Hammer, who said he eats at Tuffy’s Diner regularly, said he decided to try One Earth World Cuisine because of the building’s aesthetic appeal.

Unlike the plastics used at other vendors, Hammer said he likes that the One Earth plates are biodegradable.

Jennifer Gilmore, the marketing communication director for campus enterprises, said the plates are made out of bamboo and are being used by One Earth to enhance its image of global cuisine and sustainability.

Maddy Gaffaney, a junior in biological sciences, said she opted to eat at Red Sky before venturing to see what One Earth had to offer.

Gaffaney, who follows a vegetarian diet, said after seeing the options offered at One Earth, she will definitely be trying it in the near future.

Gilmore said the design of cooking in front of students so they can see their food being prepared offers a fresher and more flavorful option.

“When students can see their ingredients being mixed and cooked right before them, it says healthy and it says delicious,” Gilmore said.

According to Gilmore, this isn’t the first time University Dining has tried similar designs, referencing Red Sky, Los Lobos and Delirious, but One Earth is the most ambitious of its attempts.

“We’re trying to step up the options and offer higher quality and more inventive dishes,” Gilmore said.

Lisa Eberhart, a dietitian for University Dining, said she is glad students feel that One Earth is healthy and fresh, as this was very intentional.

According to Eberhart, the process of designing a menu started more than a year ago with a team composed of her, the executive chef for University Dining, the associate director for University Dining, a number of managers and Julie Staples, a research and developmental chef.

According to Eberhart, the team paid special attention to scratch-made menu items, vegan and vegetarian options, healthier menu items, lots of vegetables and allergy-friendly items.

“I feel like the menu at One Earth reflects all these goals,” Eberhart said. “We always want to meet the needs of the students on campus, no matter what their taste or preferences.”

Ethan Wicker, a sophomore majoring in math education, said he is satisfied with the cuisine.

Wicker, also a vegetarian, said the food was different and offered more vegetarian options.

“I feel healthier,” Wicker said. “There’s Jason’s Deli that’s kind of healthy, but that’s it. This is more healthy, or at least ‘college healthy.’”

According to Gilmore, it was very important for University Dining to accommodate students, faculty members and staff that live a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or have allergies or intolerances.

“The key to doing vegan and vegetarian well is to make it so good that everyone wants to eat it, too,” Gilmore said.

Jonique Conyers, an employee at One Earth, said she has seen a lot of traffic since the opening and that she enjoyed working there in comparison to Tuffy’s because it has more room.

The process of designing One Earth began more than four years ago, when they first received approval to for the renovation of Talley, according to Gilmore.

“We didn’t waste any time beginning to do research and development for these concepts,” Gilmore said. “We wanted to create something that gave us the opportunity to introduce new concepts and food experiences to the students.”

The additions that opened Monday include the senate chamber, One Earth World Cuisine, Wolf Xpress Print & Copy and Port City Java, according to Gilmore.

The celebration started with Chancellor Randy Woodson’s Spring Update and will continue this week with TEDXNCSU and musical and cultural performances.