PUC Café
Stay Fresh
The Buzz: Bone Broth
Bone broth ─ a miracle superfood to help keep you well ─ or just another crock of soup?
The Buzz: Adaptogens
Are adaptogens the mystical medicinal tonic that can help support your immune system and reduce the effects of stress?
The Buzz: Magnesium
Is magnesium the magical sleep aid that will result in more restful nights?
Savory Lentil Soup with Spinach
Filled with fiber and magnesium, this nutrient-packed soup is just the comfort food you need to get a good night’s rest.
Tossing and Turning
Paying attention to what you eat can help you stay in dreamland longer.
Staying Well During the Holiday Season
With a little planning and a few strategies, you can prioritize wellness this holiday season, so you don’t miss out on the festivities.
Ginger and Almond Flour Cookies In-A-Jar
Gift these flavorful cookies (baked or un-baked) to family, friends, teachers, or neighbors, this holiday season.
The Gift (Guide) of Health
‘Tis the season to show people that you care. Stress that message by giving them gifts that support their well-being.
Eat Fresh, Waste Less!
Use these tips to maximize your produce while minimizing waste in your kitchen.
Make-it-Yourself One-Pot Ramen
Warm and comforting, this one-pot ramen can be made with your holiday leftovers.
Upcycle Your Holiday Leftovers
Repurposing holiday foods is more than just a practical solution to leftovers; it’s a meaningful way to promote wellness and sustainability.
Exploring Indigenous Food Sovereignty
The food sovereignty movement relies on traditional knowledge systems that work in harmony with the land.
Learning From the Three Sisters
We are centering the wisdom of Indigenous voices and their resilient agricultural techniques like The Three Sisters.
Saving Seeds: Honoring Indigenous Farming Practices
Seed saving preserves a sacred past while preparing for future harvests.
PUC Café
SPECIAL HOURS
- Café Closed Dec 30 - Jan 4
- Christmas Break
- Brunch January 5, 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
View/Print Weekly Menu
Weekly Schedule
- Breakfast Mon-Fri, 7:30 am - 10:00 am
- Brunch Sun, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
- Lunch Mon-Fri, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
- Lunch Sat, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
- Dinner Mon-Thu/Sun, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
- Dinner Fri-Sat, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
The PUC Café team is proud to be the onsite restaurant here at Pacific Union College. We are known for our culinary expertise and commitment to our guest, our community and our environment. We are a culture driven to create food that is alive with flavor and nutrition, prepared from scratch using authentic ingredients. We do this in a socially responsible manner for the well being of our guest, communities, and the environment.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Serving Students with Food Allergies and Celiac Disease
The dining services team is well-trained in food allergy awareness and offer a number of options for students with food allergies and celiac disease. This includes communication about and modification to existing menu items, special preparation of menu items, and access to special products as agreed upon with students.
Daily menus for each café can be accessed at puc.cafebonappetit.com. Menu items that are appropriate options for most students with celiac disease are labeled as “made without gluten-containing ingredients” and can be filtered to streamline searching using the dietary preferences filter. Top-9 allergens are included in menu names and/or descriptions whenever possible. For more on eating with a food allergy in our café, visit this page and view the guide on food allergies and celiac disease at Pacific Union College. Further questions about ingredients can be answered by our trained managers/chefs on-site.
For questions about these services or to request food allergy accommodations, students should contact:
Andrew White, General Manager
Andrew.White@cafebonappetit.com
(707) 531-0930
Michelle Kendrick, Disability Support Services Coordinator
mkendrick@puc.edu
(707) 965-7685
Benefits of a Meal Plan!
If you are living in the residence hall, you will be enrolled in a quarterly base meal plan of $1,319. Also known as the standard meal plan, this covers purchases in the Dining Commons and The Grind, PUC’s specialty beverage bar and C-store in the Campus Center. The standard meal plan offers students approximately 12 meals a week and a few beverages. Actual usage will vary depending upon eating behavior.
For more flexibility, you can add Flex Dollars to your account in increments of $100. Flex Dollars let you enjoy all of the great things about the standard meal plan, plus you will enjoy added perks:
- Upgrade whenever you want. Just visit WebAdvisor to manage your meal plan.
- Rollover each quarter. Flex Dollars don’t expire until the end of the school year.
- Flex Dollars allow you to purchase prepared/hot food tax-free!
Eat Right — For You
Wellness
When it comes to wellness, Bon Appétit’s focus is on simple, delicious food — that happens to be good for you. To support long-term health, we are bringing more plants to menus every day in a craveable way, while emphasizing healthy cooking techniques. When healthy food tastes good, nourishing your body and mind becomes the easy choice.
Food Allergies
We serve thousands of guests with food allergies and sensitivities safely in our cafés every day. Our chefs, managers, and dietitians work closely with our food-allergic guests to create reasonable solutions to help them eat what they love. If you have questions about eating for your dietary needs in our cafés, reach out to us: we’ll gladly meet with you.
Sustainability
Wellness also includes the health of the animals, the workers, the community, and the Earth. They’re all connected. Bon Appétit has been committed to “food service for a sustainable future” for decades, and we’ve led the food service industry in tackling many important issues, such as cage-free eggs, antibiotics in animal production, and farmworker rights.
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Tell Us What You Think
Common Questions
- I’ve been trying to eat a healthier diet. Will I be able to find a healthy food choice in my café?
- Can you tell me how many calories are in the foods in my café?
- How will you handle my concerns about a food allergy?
Is bone broth a miracle superfood to help keep you well ─ or just another crock of soup?
Bone broth, which differs from most traditional culinary stocks, is made by roasting bones (usually chicken, beef, or fish) then simmering them, sometimes with the meat attached, along with vegetables (typically carrots, celery, and onion) and herbs and spices for up to 24 hours before straining it.
What does the science say?
Bone broth claims to heal your gut, protect your joints, reduce stress, support your immune system, and more, but these claims are not well supported by research.
Bone broth may contain collagen and nutrients like calcium and magnesium, but these are not unique to this food and often vary from batch to batch.
What`s the takeaway?
🤧 Sipping some bone broth might be soothing when you`re sick, and there may be some effect on your immune function.
🍲 Bone broth is yummy and can be used in meals as a replacement for traditional stock.
❌ Be wary of the many grandiose and indefensible claims bone broth proponents make. It isn`t the cure-all for everything that ails you.
#BoneBroth #NutritionalScience #FoodFacts #LinkInBio
Are adaptogens the mystical medicinal tonics that can naturally support your immune system and bust your stress? 👀
What are adaptogens? They have been used in Eastern Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and are plant-derived compounds believed to help the body manage stress by balancing the stress response. They include maca, ginseng, rhodiola, ashwagandha, holy basil, and medicinal mushrooms known as lion`s mane and turkey tail.
Today, adaptogens are typically sold in capsules, powders, or liquid extracts and are often blended into coffee, tea, smoothies, or other beverages.
What does the science say?
👉 Short-term studies of commonly used varieties have shown some promise, but research in this area is still highly limited.
👉 Like herbal supplements, adaptogens are not well-regulated, and long-term side effects are largely unknown.
👉 Be aware of possible negative effects. Licorice root may increase blood pressure and ashwagandha and ginger are known to interact with some medications.
What`s the takeaway?
☑️ Check with your doctor before taking any adaptogens alongside your medications.
☑️ Skip the adaptogens (at least for now) and combat stress and improve your immune function by eating well, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and getting adequate sleep.
#Adaptogens #ImmuneSupport #StressRelief #LinkInBio
Herbal supplements make strong claims to "boost" your immunity, especially during cold and flu season. 🤧 But what does the science say?
Let`s clarify a few things first. There are two types of immunity:
1️⃣ Innate immunity is the immunity we are born with.
2️⃣ Adaptive immunity is the immunity that develops as our body is exposed to germs.
Anything that claims to boost immunity actually means that our body is being exposed to a "foreign invader" that imitates infections and causes our body to have an immune response. If that sounds oddly familiar, it`s because this is actually how a vaccine works to produce antigens against viruses!
Herbal supplements cannot boost immunity in a functional way, and FDA oversight of dietary supplements is much less stringent compared to other “foods.” This means many make it to the market without tests of their efficacy, and there isn`t even verification that the product you have purchased contains what it claims to.
What`s the takeaway?
👉 Herbal supplements are unlikely to support your immune system.
👉 Eating nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, fish, and whole grains can help support a healthy immune system.
👉 When paired with an active lifestyle, you can reduce comorbidity factors known to increase your risk for illness.
#HerbalSupplements #ImmunityBoost #HealthScience #ImmuneHealth #LinkInBio
Chances are you have visited a holiday market at some point in your life, but have you heard of the storied and spirited history of them? 🎁 Either swipe through the carousel or read on below!
This now-global phenomenon likely traces its roots back to medieval Europe with roots in Germany in the late 13th century when Duke Albrecht I authorized a 14-day fair in the month of December.
Although scholars aren`t willing to proclaim the first Christmas market, Dresden Striezelmarkt and Nuremberg Christkindlesmarket have been operating annually since 1434 and 1628, respectively.
Consumerism changed the game for these markets, though. The popularity of the market in connection with Christmas rose in the 17th and 18th centuries, then fell in the 19th century, rising to popularity again in the 1960s and 70s, with some markets opening as early as November (sound familiar?).
Although the modern market is slightly romanticized compared to its actual roots, it has become a great way to support local artisans and makers and keep your spending local.
Plus, there is much joy to be had thanks to the feeling of community coupled with delightful scents and festive holiday foods!
#HolidayMarkets #ChristmasTradition #FestiveVibes
We`re not promoting jelly molds for the holidays, but we ARE promoting delicious vintage appetizer ideas. ✨
First things first: tea sandwiches, which are not only easy to make but also crowd pleasers! Here are some flavor combos to get you started:
🥪 Cucumber, dill cream cheese, and pickled radish
🥪 Heirloom tomato and bacon aioli
🥪 Egg salad
It wouldn`t be a vintage appetizer round-up without fondue, both sweet and savory:
🧀 Melty cheese with grapes, apples, sourdough bread, and roasted vegetables
🍫 Chocolate with strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, and bananas
You`ve probably seen deviled eggs on menus, and for good reason! This vintage app is super flexible. Start with a classic recipe or add a flavor twist with pickled beets or horseradish and fresh dill. 🥚
Last but not least, try out blinis! These tiny pancakes can be topped with everything from the classic smoked salmon and crème fraîche to more plant-forward options like glazed shiitake mushrooms and cucumbers or lentil "caviar" with lemony crème fraîche.
#VintageAppetizers #AppetizerIdeas #HolidaySnacks #RetroRecipes #FingerFoods
Is magnesium the magical sleep aid that will give you a more restful night of sleep? 🤔
What does the science say?
Magnesium works in several ways to help you relax and promote sleep:*
😴 It activates chemicals in the body that help calm nerves and reduce anxiety-inducing thoughts.
😴 Melatonin is correlated with magnesium levels. When magnesium is low, the body produces less melatonin, leading to restlessness and difficulty falling asleep.
😴 It binds to receptors in the brain called GABA-receptors, which is what prescription sleep aids also target to induce sleep.
*All of the science behind the effects of magnesium on sleep are predicated on having a magnesium deficiency, which only affects 2% of the population.
What`s the takeaway?
1️⃣ Check with a physician before taking supplements, which can often interfere with other medications.
2️⃣ If you have more than 350mg of magnesium per day (as an adult), you can experience a laxative effect!
3️⃣ Get your magnesium naturally through food: nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, some fruits such as tart cherries, pomegranates, and grapes, leafy greens, whole grains, and dairy.
#SleepHealth #HealthySleep #NutritionTips #SleepBetter #MindfulEating #NaturalSleepAid