Welcome to

The Kitchens

Secret Menu

You now have the freedom to eat your favorite cravings and make your time at the Caf even more memorable! 🍔🔥

EXCLUSIVE FOR SSU STUDENTS

Rules of the Secret Menu:

1) Share your thoughts, recipes, and feedback, as you scroll through the menu... this project literally depends on it.

2) These recipes are all your creations, there are no limits, and it is up to you to make them look like the images.

3) Spread the word, we are the only CSU with this type of menu #CafSecretMenu

🌮✨See all recipes by scrolling down, or pressing the menu button ≣ in the top left corner for the full list. Enjoy! 🌮✨

Taco Truck Burrito

Mexican grub is basically a California essential, and Sonoma is no exception to this. If you're craving a dish packed with flavor, you're in the right spot.

Hold up, though! This burrito is only available during lunch hours, Monday to Friday. Yeah, it's a lunchtime exclusive. Look at The Kitchens menu to plan your meal.

Now, let's break down the details:

Grab a flour tortilla from Garden.
Go over to the Sizzle taco bar and layer up your tortilla like this: beans (spread it), chorizo, carne asada, or chicken, shredded cheese, and some jalapeno peppers.
To wrap it up, fold in two sides to get a rectangle, then roll the bottom to cover the goods and tuck it in. Roll the rest to lock in the flavor.

Back to Garden to use the panini grill. Place your burrito on diagonally for nice grid lines. Let it sizzle for about 5 minutes.
Take it off the grill, and one last run to the taco bar. Pile on the sour cream, red or green salsa, cilantro, and onions.

This burrito is our crew's masterpiece, and it was about time we share this with everyone🌯✌️ #CafSecretMenu

Barista Iced Coffee

No matter the time, the day, or the season, iced coffee just hits different. Enhance your caffeine experience at The Kitchens – where we've cracked the code and given it to you for free.

So, here's the recipe we've learned from our Sip baristas:

Take a cup from any drink spot and drop in two pumps of white mocha sauce and one pump of vanilla syrup.
Slide your cup over to the espresso machine, press "Custom," and then the "Single Espresso" button. It's the ideal ratio for the ultimate iced coffee. Give it a good stir until everything's mixed.
Now, grab a second cup and add ice from the Pepsi machine – halfway, though. Pour your coffee mix over the ice, and then fill up the rest of the cup with your favorite milk (half and half oat milk, etc.).
Top it off with whipped cream from the milk fridge or the waffle bar.

This coffee blew up last summer, and ever since, it's been our go-to fuel for midterms and finals week. ☕💪 #CafSecretMenu

Panda Combination

Did you know that the nearest Chinese fast food to campus is, like, a 10-minute drive? And if you're craving that classic orange chicken, you're stuck either making the trip or wasting your hard-earned cash on delivery apps like Doordash or Uber Eats. Expensive, right?

But check this – If you go to The Kitchens, you can build your bowl, totally customized to you. We're telling you how to recreate that iconic fast-food dish of our generation with your own twist.

Quick heads up: This recipe's a nighttime exclusive, so check The Kitchens menu to plan your dinner.

Now, let's break it down real quick:

Start at Sizzle and grab a bowl. Toss in rice, carrots, green onions, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger.
Let the Kitchens' crew cook your veggies (oh, and ask for no salt, please).
Once your bowl's back in your hands, drizzle some soy sauce on top and give it a good stir.
Move over to Chefs and top your fried rice with orange chicken. Mix it all up for the flavor explosion.

This recipe's a speed run – done in under 5 minutes. Plus, unlike fast food, you're in control.

Make this your go-to dinner move, and create it however you want. 🍲✨#CafSecretMenu

Wild Animal Fries

The #1 item in fast food? French fries. But what takes them from a side to a main course is all the toppings and seasoning. Some places go all out, throwing on toppings like spread, grilled onions, and American cheese, giving birth to the legendary animal fries.

But, "animal fries" sounds a bit too domesticated for our taste. We're all about pushing flavor boundaries in our kitchen, so we cooked up a new fries combo that's gonna boost your next meal.

Good news – all you need is right there on one counter. Just a heads up – this recipe's a lunchtime exclusive, so read The Kitchens menu for the details.

Now, let's get wild with some animal fries:

Grab a plate and head over to the Sizzle taco bar.
Ladle a bit of cheese sauce, then sprinkle some chorizo on top.
Slide over to Flame and serve your preferred portion of fries on top of the cheese.
Slide back to the taco bar for round two: more cheese sauce, more chorizo, jalapeno peppers, green onions, and a hint of lemon juice.

This could be a whole meal or portioned down to a side.

Honestly, these fries can get pretty spicy , just perfect for a Friday morning (yeah, we know what ya'll do at SSU on Thursday nights).

Come by The Kitchens and join the Wild Animal Fries Challenge. 🔥🍟 #CafSecretMenu

Elevated Ice Cream Sandwich

Picture this: crispy waffles cuddling up to swirly, dreamy soft serve. It's not just dessert; it's a treat where waffles and ice cream throw the sweetest party in your mouth.

We can keep chatting about it all day, but let's quit the talk and get into the action:

Go to the waffle bar at Etcetera. Pour waffle batter into the waffle iron, close it up, and flip the handles (instructions are right there on the side, you can't miss 'em).
Once that waffle's golden crispy, toss it on a plate and slice it in half.
Walk around to the soft serve machine and serve ice cream on one waffle half. Start with the edges first, then work your way 'til the whole waffle's covered.
Grab the chocolate syrup from the milk fridge, and drizzle over the ice cream. Now, seal the deal with the second waffle half on top.
Deck out the top with some whipped cream.

We're all about a good time, not a long time, so don't sleep on this delicacy. Every lunch or dinner at The Kitchens is a chance to treat yourself. 🚀🍨 #CafSecretMenu

Loaded Mac n' Cheese

Alright, when it comes to comfort food, nothing hits the spot like a bowl of mac n' cheese. Let's be serious, we all grew up on the boxed version – easy, cheesy, and straight-up delicious.

But thanks to TikTok, we know there are no limits to upgrade this classic. We broke down the original recipe to its core and spiced up the final result for you to fully savor that mac n' cheese experience.

Quick heads up, though – we're not serving mac n' cheese every day, so keep an eye on The Kitchens menu.

Here's the breakdown on it:

Grab a bowl, load it up with mac n' cheese. Swing by Slice, sprinkle it with red pepper flakes for that kick, and add in grated parmesan cheese.
Put that bowl in the microwave (next to the ice cream machine), hit the 1:30 min. button, and give it a good stir once it's out.
Walk around to the bagel bar, and drop a butter ball on your mac n' cheese.
Slide over to the salad bar – lay a slice of cheddar cheese on top. Let it melt in the pasta and toss bacon bits to taste.
Move over to Sizzle (Taco and Mongolian grill), and add some green onions.

Yeah, it might seem like a lot for just one bowl, but life is good when you upgrade your food. This 5-minute recipe is about to give you a reason to love mac n' cheese again. 🧀🎉 #CafSecretMenu

Diablo Agua Fresca

Whether it's summer or winter, before or after the gym, you can always find a reason to sip on a fresh glass of agua fresca.

So, we're bringing you the Diablo agua fresca, Mexican-inspired, and packing a flavor punch that pairs with anything in the Caf.

Here's the recipe –

Start at Etcetera, grab a bowl, and sprinkle Tajin powder. On a separate bowl, pick up a few pieces of watermelon or pineapple.
Then walk to the Pepsi machine next to Slice and get a splash of pink lemonade on the Tajin. Mix it up till it's a paste.
Grab a cup, flip it upside down in the first bowl, and get that paste all around the rim. Then toss the pieces of fruit in the cup.
Pour in pink lemonade till you hit 1/3 of the cup. Top it off with some Jamaica (Hibiscus) water.

Tip: Don't toss the leftover paste – save it for rounds two, three, or share your Diablo agua fresca with friends. Enjoy the refresher! 🍉🔥 #CafSecretMenu

Monte Cristo Sandwich

FYI, The Monte Cristo Sandwich was a French exclusive of the Happiest Place on Earth down in Anaheim, CA. But guess what? We made our own version. So, pay attention, 'cause after this little scavenger hunt, you're in for a treat.

Quick reminder – this is a breakfast exclusive, so look at The Kitchens menu before you hit the caf.

No more talk, let's get to it:

Grab 2 pieces of French toast on a plate – usually, you can grab those at Chefs.
Head over to the bagel bar, spread some cream cheese (however much you want) on one French toast piece, and strawberry jam on the other.
Here's where it gets a bit tricky – if Flame's serving out breakfast sandwiches with ham and egg, just ask for the ham and egg on a plate (they got you); if not, go back to Chefs and grab scrambled eggs and bacon.

And that's it! It's that simple – just manage your menu timing to enjoy this sandwich with your favorite protein. Enhance your breakfast and wake up to a plate of pure deliciousness. I guess we're trying to be the second happiest place on earth 🍓🍳 #CafSecretMenu

Caf-fogato

Italy just got a whole lot closer to Sonoma County, and we ain't talking about the usual food – pizza, pasta, or wine. This time, we're hitting you with the Michelangelo of Italian desserts, the hidden gem of this heritage, but with the sweet SSU spin.

Menu alert – this is an exclusive lunch and dinner treat, and some ingredients aren't always on display. So, check The Kitchens menu to stay in the loop.

Now, for the recipe:

If Etcetera's serving whole brownies, pick 2 of 'em; if it's brownie bites, scoop up 4. Break 'em down into even smaller pieces.
Toss half of those brownie crumbs into a cup, then go to the soft serve machine – swirl in some vanilla ice cream (or chocolate).
Sprinkle the second half of those brownie crumbs on top.
Move over to the coffee espresso machine – pour a single shot by hitting the "Custom" and then "Single espresso" buttons.
Finish the job with some chocolate syrup from the milk fridge – that's the final touch on your Affogato.

Mama mia! This sweet treat is gonna blow your mind – the perfect combo to put a smile on anyone's face🍫🍨 #CafSecretMenu

Battle of the Cheeseburgers

We're at a crossroads here. After polling our team, students, and faculty, about their favorite cheeseburger, we're locked between two contenders: the N & Out Double Cheeseburger and the Mushroom-Swiss Cheeseburger.

So, to settle the score and crown Sonoma State's #1 Cheeseburger, we're releasing both onto the final section of our secret menu. We need you to taste them both and weigh in on a winner.

It's best to try them both for dinner, so open The Kitchens menu to ensure we've got the goods that night.

First up, the N & Out Double Cheeseburger:

Start at Flame and request a double cheeseburger.
While that cooks, take a bowl from Sizzle and load it up with onions (just onions, let our crew know that you only want that cooked).
Open your double cheeseburger and layer in the grilled onions, then swing by the salad bar.
Add lettuce, tomatoes, and our secret ingredient... Thousand Island dressing. Let's be real, if you Google N & Out spread and Thousand Island recipes, they're practically the same (give it a shot).
- Disclaimer: This recipe is fictional, any similarities to food or actual restaurants is purely coincidental

Next in the ring, the Mushroom-Swiss Cheeseburger:

Start at Flame and order two beef patties, hold the cheese.
Grab a bowl from Sizzle and toss in onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, and garlic (let our crew that you only want that cooked).
When your bowl is done, hit the salad bar and lay down two slices of Swiss cheese in it. Let the steam melt the cheese, then stir it all up (season with salt and pepper to taste).
Take two slices of sourdough bread and toast 'em up at the bagel bar from Etcetera.
Once the bread's toasty, stack your sandwich (bread, patty, mushroom-cheese mix, patty, bread).

Remember to cast your vote by writing a comment on the Share Your Thoughts button. Only one can emerge victorious, and the other gets a farewell from the menu at the end of the semester 🍔🔥 #CafSecretMenu

Peanut Butter Jammin’ Oats

Craving or healthy, simple or tasty, PB&J or oats, What do you really want for breakfast besides eggs and bacon? Well, you won't believe what our crazy experiments led us to.

Being healthy does not have to be a sacrifice for flavor, in fact, we took the opportunity to upgrade oatmeal to a nostalgic level, and it's must try for all early birds that come for breakfast.

Menu alert – this is a morning exclusive, so plan to come early! Here’s how to whip up this nostalgic delight:

First, grab yourself a bowl of oatmeal from Etcetera.
Next, swing by the bagel station and mix in a spoonful of peanut butter until it’s all creamy.
Now for the jam: in the same area, grab some strawberry jam and swirl it on top of the peanut buttery.
Finally, head to Garden, pick up a ripe banana, slice it up, and use those slices to garnish your dish.

The result? Throwback blend of flavors that'll make you feel like a kid again and a responsible adult at the same time... with a satisfying twist. 🍓🍌🥄 #CafSecretMenu