From Fine Dining to Family Weekend: What’s Cooking at Caltech

Dining & Housing

WINTER TERM GREETINGS FROM HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES Welcome to the first installment of our new collaborative column from Housing and Dining Services! While the term is already in full swing, we wanted to take a moment to officially welcome everyone back to campus. As part of the Student Affairs team, we are excited to launch this space in the Tech to keep you connected with the community, whether that means updates on life in the houses or the latest culinary experiences we’re cooking up.

HOUSING UPDATES House Improvements & Maintenance — We have been collaborating closely with the Stewards and Facilities on several initiatives to improve life in the houses.

  • Upgrades: The Stewards have been working with Housing on enhancements including the installation of an air conditioner in the Page Piano Room and the updating of whiteboards in the Blacker lounge.
  • Cleanings: We are currently working with the Stewards to schedule termly courtyard cleanings for all houses.
  • Accessibility: Housing is working with Facilities on a design for an accessible ramp in the Dabney courtyard.

Future Planning: Storage & Lottery —

  • Summer Storage: Members of the Stewardship Committee and the IHC are currently meeting with off-campus storage companies to explore alternative solutions for summer storage.
  • 2026 Housing Lottery: The Housing Lottery Working Group has been meeting to propose adjustments to the system implemented last year. The group aims to finalize recommendations by the end of January and will begin rolling out information about the 2026 Fall Housing Lottery by the end of the winter term. Contacting Housing — The Housing Office can be contacted by phone at 626-395-6176 and email at housing@caltech.edu during business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

DINING UPDATES The Pop-Up Bistro: A Surprise Meal Plan Event — On Thursday, Jan. 22, we were thrilled to host our latest Pop-Up Bistro. This initiative, launched by our Director of Dining Services, was created with a specific goal in mind: fostering community through meaningful, face-to-face interaction. We wanted to create a space where we could slow down, break bread, and connect with students outside the bustle of the daily meal rush. For those who haven’t caught one yet, the Pop-Up Bistro is designed as a surprise experience. We announce the event via our Instagram @caltechdining the day of, and 20 lucky undergraduate students to comment that day’s keyword on the post are selected to join us for a three-course fine dining experience. Last Thursday’s event was a hit! It was wonderful seeing the happy faces of those students as they enjoyed a culinary journey from starters of rich lobster bisque or roasted tomato bisque to main courses featuring tender duck or stuffed roasted butternut squash with risotto and green beans. And, of course, the crowd-favorite finish: a chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and took the time to meet our talented Sous Chef, Oswaldo. We love sharing our passion for food with you.

Getting Ready for Family Weekend — Looking ahead, we are gearing up for First-Year Student Family Weekend next weekend! We can’t wait to welcome your families to campus.

CONNECT WITH US We are one team dedicated to enhancing your student experience throughout the Winter term.

Sous Chef Oswaldo plates the main entree duck over risotto and green beans. (Credit: Miguel Campos)