Hundreds of UCI Health co-workers celebrate grand opening of Tony and Daisy Fan Family Café in Irvine
Food offerings for patients and families range from coffee and matcha to pastries and avocado toast
Irvine, Calif. — More than 300 co-workers, including UCI Health President and CEO Chad Lefteris, and Chief Operating Officer Nathan Shinagawa, recently came together to celebrate grand opening of the Tony and Daisy Fan Family Café on the first floor of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building in Irvine.
Those who attended the event had the opportunity to taste pastries from Seal Beach-based Crema Artisan Bakers, coffee and matcha from Santa Ana-based Moongoat Coffee Roasters and the café’s special avocado toast with a mixed green salad and balsamic vinaigrette.
Food as medicine
Shinagawa welcomed attendees and expressed his excitement that co-workers, patients and their families could now enjoy the variety of culinary and beverage offerings. He also spoke about the important role that nutrition plays in health and overall well-being.
“This café wouldn’t have been possible without strong community partnerships with Moongoat Coffee and Crema Artisan Bakers, known for their tasty beverages and pastries throughout Irvine,” said Shinagawa. “Food is core to the healing of our patients – it plays a fundamental role in rebuilding the strength of those going through cancer treatment, recovering from surgery and more.”
Identifying and consuming food that tastes good, nourishes the body and supports the immune system is key to improving overall health. This approach is reflected in the both the patient and cafeteria menus at UCI Health – Orange, formerly known as UCI Medical Center, and soon, UCI Health – Irvine.
Several nurses commented throughout the event that patients and their families would enjoy the café because of its nutritious menu items.
Ease of ordering
In addition to the coffee, tea and matcha, those in need of a quick snack or are looking to relax in a calming environment with an abundance of natural light can also enjoy fresh salads and fruit, sandwiches, hot cereal, parfaits, quiches and breakfast burritos.
Patients and visitors can also take advantage of ordering snacks, juice or an iced latte via a mobile app.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves nearly 5.7 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).