Couple brings tastes of the world to campus cafe
Willow International Cafe managers Sara and Ziad Abwini
When students at Willow International Center get hungry, they know where to go. Since the opening of the campus in 2007, the Willow International Cafe has been satisfying students’ hunger. And since the opening, the cafe has been managed by husband and wife team Ziad and Sara Abwini.
The couple approached the District early on about providing food service for the new campus. They were given the go-ahead and opened the original cafe in a portable classroom, until upgrading this year to the current permanent structure. The cafe offers a unique locale for students to gather, eat, and study. A variety of tables are arranged for comfortable seating, along with a convenient ATM and beverage vending machines.
The Abwinis have both worked in the food service industry for most of their lives, managing restaurants and operating catering services. Ziad Abwini emigrated from the Middle East to the U.S. where he met and married Sara, a lifelong resident of the Central Valley. Since then, they have been working together.
“When people come to eat, they’re in a good mood.” – Sara Abwini
“We like what we do,” said Sara. “When people come to eat, they’re in a good mood.”
And when Willow International students come to eat, they have extra reason to be happy. Almost all of the cafe’s food is handmade. That includes the standard sandwiches, burgers, and breakfast burritos, but also the specials like Mexican, Mediterranean, and Chinese foods. The sauces in the Italian dishes are all made fresh. So is the chili for the fries. “The kids love chili,” Sara said.
Between the two of them, they have experience with a globe-spanning range of cuisines. “We try to touch on every part of the world,” she said of the menu.
Even when they aren’t working, the Abwinis are thinking about the cafe. “We like to visit other restaurants and cafes,” said Sara, “and get ideas for ours to become more appealing. We always try to accommodate everyone.”
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