PHILADELPHIA - Chefs from several local restaurants will share their culinary favorites as the Guest Chef Series at University of Pennsylvania gets under way for the second straight year, as just one of several events and new services offered on campus by Penn Dining Services.

Chef Matthew Babbage from the World Caf Live will kick off the series with his Asian Salad at 5 p.m., Sept. 17, when the 1920 Commons, 38th Street and Locust Walk, will be transformed into a lively music themed venue.  On Oct. 24, Chef Michael Solomonov of Marigold Kitchen, who was recently named Philadelphia Magazine's "Best New Chef" in 2006, will serve a modern American cuisine.  

Also, for those who want to purchase locally grown or prepared products, the new Locust Walk Farmers Market, sponsored by Farm to City, can be found just west of 1920 Commons on Locust Walk, from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through November.  This market will offer fresh produce, cider, home-style baked goods, jams, preserves and pickled vegetables.  As an added service, Penn students may use their Dining Dollar$ to make their purchases.      

Penn Dining has expanded its menu offerings with the addition of these new or improved restaurants:

* Jamba Juice, offering healthful smoothies, at the 1920 Commons;

* Savory on Spruce, eclectic menu, 3716 Spruce St.;

* Einstein Bros. Bagels, breakfast and anytime sandwiches, soups and salads, Houston Market;  

* a full-service Caf Spice, Asian dishes under $7, Houston Market;

* Gourmet Flat Bread Station, Houston Market.

New products that can be found at existing Houston Market shops include Moosewood Organic Soups, fresh organic beef burgers from Albert's Organics and chicken dishes made with Tyson's 100% natural chicken breasts; jumbo chicken wings with extreme dipping sauces, vegan chicken fingers and organic cottage cheese.

To support students' efforts toward sustainable living - maintaining lifestyles that do not exhaust available resources -- Penn Dining provides biodegradable containers for both food and drinks available at its  "Dining on the Go" program, which allows students to take out food from all-you-care-to-eat facilities, and, to encourage students to reduce, reuse and recycle,  sells Earthwise reusable bags for $1 each.  Available at the convenience store at 1920 Commons, Savory on Spruce or Houston Market, the bag entitles the bearer to a discount on any purchase over $3 when the bag is reused at any Penn Dining location.

Additional information about Penn Dining initiatives, as well as a calendar of events that will include showcase events for locally produced foods, is available at www.upenn.edu/dining.