Boston College Dining Services cooked up some friendly competition when they made a deal with their Boston University counterparts: Whichever hockey team won the Beanpot this year, the losing school’s dining services would present a banner and popular campus food item to the winner.

BC Dining Services Associate Director of Restaurant Operations Megan O’Neill said the bet started when she was contacted by BU’s social media director. “They said, ‘It’s the Battle of Comm. Ave. – are you interested in a little challenge?’ I said ‘Absolutely.’” 

BU Dining Services Marketing Director Scott Rosario said the bet reflects the fun side of the longstanding BC-BU rivalry. “We thought it’d be great to have our dining services teams compete against each other. We wanted to have fun and share some of what we’re known for.”

Using social media for promotion, BU promised to bring Raising Cane’s chicken fingers to the Heights, while BC touted its popular bakery cupcakes.  

O’Neill says the positive response on social media was exciting for both schools.  “BC Dining got a bunch of new followers, so it was fun for us.”  

An overtime Eagles’ win in the Beanpot Championship meant victory for BC Dining.  “I immediately texted them and said ‘Hey, guess what, we won,’” said O’Neill.

Keeping their word, BU Dining visited the McElroy Lobby on Feb. 17 with a banner that read “Boston University Dining Services Congratulates Boston College Men’s Hockey Team, 2016 Beanpot Champs” – and a big helping of Raising Cane’s for those in attendance to sample. 

Not wanting the BU representatives to leave empty-handed, BCDS Executive Pastry Chef Tim Fonseca whipped up some cupcakes for the trip back. “That’s a consolation prize,” Fonseca said with a smile, “so when they taste the cupcakes, they know how much they missed out on the real thing.”

Rosario acknowledged the defeat good-naturedly. “We were hoping to get some cupcakes. It didn’t work out for us this time, but we’re really excited about the competition and fun around the BU-BC rivalry.”

Fonseca credited his bakery staff for being ready to produce no matter the Beanpot outcome, but he’s happy that things worked out in favor of the Eagles. “On behalf of the bakery team,” he said, “we are very grateful that our BC hockey team kicked butt and brought home the chicken.”  

–Siobhan Sullivan | News and Public Affairs