Enjoying the Eid al-Fitr food and community are, from left, Abdul-Malik Ryan, assistant director of religious diversity and pastoral care and the Muslim chaplain at DePaul, Chef Zubair Mohajir and Sean Gordon, resident district manager for Chartwells Higher Education. (Submitted photo)
Chartwells Higher Education joined with the student organization United Muslims Moving Ahead to present an Eid al-Fitr dinner celebrating the end of Ramadan on April 25.
Along with food from the Halal Station Takeover at the Blue Demon Dining Hall, Chef Zubair Mohajir, a former DePaul student and a nominee for the James Beard Award - Best Chef Midwest, provided several of the dishes that helped break the Ramadan fast.
Mohajir's Wazwan and the Coach House by Wazwan restaurants are highly praised as regional standouts, and his famous tandoori chicken sandwich, plant-based vada pav chettinad and mushroom masala with rice were featured items.
Chartwells Higher Education and Abdul-Malik Ryan, assistant director of religious diversity and pastoral care and the Muslim chaplain at DePaul, also partnered together to learn more about students' needs during Ramadan. A survey went to UMMA students that asked about Suhoor boxes and dietary restrictions. As a result, the Exhibition dinner station transitioned to Halal throughout Ramadan, and the sale of Suhoor boxes was added at the Blue Dining Hall.
This collaboration highlights Chartwells Higher Education's commitment to providing an inclusive dining experience for all students. We look forward to continuing to build partnerships to celebrate cultures and support our students in the future.