'Salad Man' feeds students' needs

photo by Tom Galaraga

Chef Gustavo Baten prepares a pasta dish for the Davenport lunch crowd. He works everyday for Aramark food services and serves close to 100 students every day.

by Jaclyn Roco
Arts and Entertainment Editor

His bright smile, and "How are you today?" brighten the day of many weary University of La Verne faculty and students.

His white apron and brown eyes are a reassuring sight in the crowded atmosphere of Davenport.

He is the man behind the Pan Geo's counter, and is affectionately known by some on campus as the "Salad Man."

"The 'Salad Man'?" Gustavo "Gus" Baten asked. Surprised at the nickname some students had given him, Baten smiled his warm smile and said, "Thank you for liking my salad. I like that name."

Baten said he has enjoyed working at ULV, and strives to put students at ease.

"I like the students," he said. "I try to make people comfortable in the dining hall."

He said he is aware that most students miss the cooking and familiar atmosphere of home.

"I want to make (Davenport) like a home," Baten said. "I know those kind of things. Students miss family."

One way Baten helps students forget the hardships of college life by providing them with their favorite food.

Because he has been employed by Aramark, ULV's food service provider, for the past 13 years, Baten said he is well aware of what the students enjoy the most.

"Chicken caesar salad is the most popular," he said. "I know what they likeI make that once a week. We do our best for you guys," he said.

Students said they appreciate the variety of food that Pan Geo's offered.

"(Pan Geo's) is good. It's really good," junior Liko Tubbs said.

Senior Will Paulson also said he enjoys Pan Geo's.

He said he loves the pizza and the special salad that Baten makes for him.

Most of all, he said, he appreciates Baten's friendly attitude toward the students and other customers.

"He's very friendly and personable," Paulson said.

Besides preparing different types of salad, Baten also tries to create other types of food to provide students and faculty with variety.

"I make really different things," he said. "I can prepare American, Italian and Chinese food. I cook pasta and gourmet pizza. Everyone knows pizza at home, but I can make it gourmet with a different sauce."

Baten encourages students to try different kinds of food as well.

"I tell them, 'You have to try it. How do you know how it tastes if (you) don't try?'" he asked.

Students said they try Baten's food because of his encouragement. Their effort for trying the food does not go unnoticed.

"He tells me 'thank you' for trying his food," Tubbs said.

Born in Guatemala, Baten said he came to the United States when he was 23 years old.

Baten immediately got a job at a bakery.

From there, he got another job as a cook at a Mexican restaurant.

Cooking has always been a part of his life, Baten said.

He applied to work for Aramark in 1989.

"I came to Aramark because my brother-in-law works here," he said. "I always wanted to be a cook."

Prior to becoming the "Salad Man," Baten used to serve students and faculty sandwiches behind the deli bar.

"When I came here, they didn't have Pan Geo's," Baten said. "I opened it in 1996. They chose me to work there. I'm very happy because I opened that place."

Although Baten said he is very pleased with his job, he also said he must leave one day.

"I'm getting old," he said.

But perhaps the "Salad Man" tradition will go on once Baten's son, Billy, is ready to stand behind the shining counter of Pan Geo's and serve the students with pride and joy.