ROSEMONT, PA., Dec. 1, 2025—The Lower School at The Agnes Irwin School now offers an all-inclusive meal plan, bringing quality and service levels back to pre-pandemic levels with family-style service of Chef’s Table entrees, grill features, sandwich-and-salad combos, and daily desserts—and all to rave reviews.
CulinArt has served Agnes Irwin, an all-girls prep school located close to Villanova University, since 2012. It has a combined enrollment of approx. 660 at all levels (lower, middle, upper). Reaction to the new meal plan was swift and substantial: out of 180 Lower School students, 137 signed up for a plan, according to Director of Operations Nicole Fusco.
About half of those sign-ups were for a one-day-a-week plan, she adds, which appealed to families uncertain of their needs. “We knew this [the all-inclusive meal plan] would be a big adjustment for both students and parents,” Fusco states. The once-weekly meal plan is called Simply Nourished Wednesday, allowing families to try out this style of dining without a half- or full-year commitment. Yet, that is the goal. “Already,” Fusco notes, “I have spoken with a few parents who are interested in signing up for the five-day plan next semester.”
A renovation undertaken by the school made this and other improvements possible, as did CulinArt’s investment in a new oven, refrigerator, hot box, and full Meveca unit to set up a serving line in the dining room. “The space is quite tight,” Fusco explains, “but the school also completed major upgrades, and with our added equipment it has really created a perfect dining room environment for the Lower School students and faculty who utilize this program. We were also able to begin offering the school’s monthly-style family meals again to help maintain that sense of community.”
The café in the Upper School, which also serves the Middle School, is undergoing a refresh with the addition of Tractor Beverages, a new grill slide, soup station, and new digital menu boards.