The University of Houston, opened in 1927, has an outstanding reputation in research, innovation, and student success. Their Conrad N. Hilton College is all about advancing hospitality standards, including Food Safety with an emphasis on hand hygiene.
Sujata Sirsat is Assistant Professor for the program and an ardent advocate for handwashing as a primary route to reduce the risk of outbreaks. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and four book chapters; awarded over $1 million in competitive grant funds from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture to improve food safety practices in retail, restaurant, small farms and farmers’ markets; currently teaches undergraduate Safety and Sanitation in the Hospitality Industry, and Grant Writing at the doctorate level; recipient of Hilton College’s 2015 Stephen Rushmore/HVS Faculty Research Award; proud member of the Institute of Food Technologists, the American Society of Microbiology, and the International Association of Food Protection
Named after Eric Hilton, son of hotel icon Conrad N. Hilton, Eric’s is a casual-dining restaurant, specializing in modern and classical American cuisine. Located in the lobby of the Hilton University of Houston, Eric’s is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features a full-service bar filled with premium spirits. More importantly to the hospitality industry, this is a hothouse for new food safety practices.
Because of the Hilton University of Houston’s affiliation with the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, more than 80 percent of Eric’s staff members are students, making the restaurant a unique training ground for the future leaders of the hospitality industry.
