Food Service & Catering

Bon Appetit

Many events planned by student organizations serve food from as simple as refreshments to as extravagant as a full-service dinner. Food service in all buildings and at all outdoor areas is exclusively granted to Bon Appetit, which is the official dining services provider for Santa Clara.

Below is a list of food service policies and catering resources by Bon Appetit:

• University Dining Services Policies
• Exceptions to using Bon Appetit (see section titled "Contractor Exclusivity Exception Detail")
• Bon Appetit Catering

Menu Options

Bon Appetit offers several types of menus to fit different needs and interests:

• Express Catering (PDF): This option allows you to order food but save costs on delivery, set-up, and tear-down; in other words, you have to pick up the food yourself from the Bon Appetit kitchen in Benson Memorial Center.
• Under $200 Catering (PDF): This option provides a variety of menu items for events with budgets less than $200.
• Regular Catering Menu (PDF): Note that Bon Appetit offers seasonal menus as well so there are more options beyond what is listed in this menu.

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions (see section titled "Contractor Exclusivity Exception Detail") that exist where a student organization may not be required to use Bon Appetit for food service. If your event meets one of the exceptions, then complete any required forms in order to qualify for that exception.

Note: Keep in mind that by submitting any required forms you are not automatically approved to use other catering until Bon Appetit approves your request. However, if you are approved to use external catering, then you must remit 7.5% of the total catering costs back to Bon Appetit.

Food Cooked by Student Organizations

Student organizations can cook their own food only for private potluck events/meetings, bake sales, and approved events (see previous section on exceptions to using Bon Appetit). For approved events, student organizations may be required to attend a food safety meeting by Bon Appetit and may be required to cook in the Bon Appetit kitchen while supervised.

Donation of Raw Food Items & Ingredients

Bon Appetit policy allows only the donation of raw food items and ingredients to be prepared or cooked by their staff. Donated food items that are already cooked are not permissible.

Donation of Meal Points

Bon Appetit policy also allows for students to donate their unused meal points to pay for catering. It is important to note that ASG does not reimburse students who are donating their meal points to pay for their student organization's catering needs.

Bake Sales & Food Tabling Sales

Student organizations may host bake sales or food tabling sales at Benson Memorial Center as long as the following guidelines are followed:

• Baked goods (i.e. cookies, cakes, brownies, dessert bars, etc) must be made by the organization members, not purchased at a bakery, grocery store, restaurant, catering company, etc. to be resold.
• Food that has a required holding temperature to stay hot or to stay cold may not be sold.
• Beverages may not be sold.
• Tabling requests must be through the Center for Student Involvement and confirmed by Benson Memorial Center.

Bon Appetit also offers a "Bake Sale Package" which is an assortment of cookies, brownies, and dessert bars that student organizations may purchase for resale at Benson Memorial Center. If your organization is interested in this package, contact Bon Appetit at 408-551-1792 at least 7 days in advance of your bake sale,

Food Trucks

Student organizations may request for food trucks to sell food during events. Food trucks must be arranged with Bon Appetit and must be from the approved list of trucks managed by Bon Appetit.

• The fee per truck is $250.
• Also, just like external catering, 7.5% of the total sales by each truck must be remitted back to Bon Appetit.

Also, Bon Appetit invites student organizations to consider renting out SCU's Pony Express food truck. Click here to learn more.

Alcohol Service

The only events sponsored by student organizations where serving alcohol is allowed are those that are exclusive to an audience comprised of a majority of students who are of legal drinking age.

Click here to learn more about events with alcohol