Most of the children agree that one of the highlights of Kurn Hattin is the food! Most meals are eaten at the Mayo Memorial Center in the Watson Dining Hall. At Breakfast and Dinner children sit at tables as a cottage, but Lunch provides a bit less structure for the older children, who can generally sit where they wish with their friends. The kitchen staff, led by Richard Johnson who has prepared meals at the Homes for over 25 years, delivers high quality, nutritious, and delicious food daily in a cafeteria-line style. A fresh salad bar is almost always available for Lunch and Dinner. A wide variety of offerings throughout each week provides opportunities to broaden the palate of the children as they try new foods that perhaps they had been unaccustomed to in the past. It is the philosophy of the Homes (as well a Federal guideline) for each child to taste a little bit of each type of food to help them learn to enjoy new and different options. An emphasis is placed on using fresh ingredients, much of which is grown on our own farm, as well as preparing meals from scratch rather than pre-prepared foods. Kurn Hattin operated a “farm-to-table” program long before it became popular in the restaurant world. The result is a wonderful array of delightful tastes and smells that children and staff alike enjoy.
Families are encouraged to join their children occasionally for dinner at no charge. Often families will utilize a smaller dining room, the Kelsey Room, for a more intimate setting for dinner with their children.
