Last month, SF State added Jessie's Hot House to its list of culturally diverse vendors in the Cesar Chavez
Student Center, justifying the rumors that circulated the campus for the past decade.

After beating its competitor, Two Jacks Seafood, last December during a campus tasting, owners Robert and Julissa Darden arrived in style with bands, DJs, and a ribbon cutting ceremony, where current and former members of the Student Center Governing Board also gave speeches.

The Dardens said they always knew the contract would be awarded to them.

"We knew since August when he heard about it, that this was it," said Julissa, referring to her husband's confidence. "There was no doubt because the concept of competition was that it didn't exist."

Opening their first restaurant on a school campus was completely unexpected, Robert Darden said. After seeing the culture and dynamics of SF State, he felt it was an ideal location.

Students waited in line for nearly an hour to choose from entrees that ranged from fried seafood and chicken to soy sausage sandwiches. After a month, lines queue times are nowhere near as long.

Entrees also include one side: collard greens, macaroni and cheese, or candied yams. A small selection of desserts are also available but sold separately.

The name Jessie's Hot House comes from Robert Darden's grandmother Jessie who sparked the owner's interest in cooking as a child and his grandfather's former hot house.