Perfecting a dish in such a way that brings a patient, friend or family member comfort is something that our catering team take great pride in. Here, our Catering Manager, Salvatore Pinna, shares what he enjoys about his role:
“There is nothing like the pleasure of knowing that no matter how unwell a patient is, a delicious meal can make them or their loved ones smile.
“Food is such big thing for people: it can bring back memories, make you feel at home, and give you something light-hearted and easy to talk about during a very difficult time in your life.
“We always put the person’s preferences first. If they’d like scrambled eggs just like they do at home, then we’ll always make an effort to replicate their home comforts.
“Nevertheless, patients know good food! They deserve to have the best meals possible as if they are eating out every night. I love to make them top quality food, just as I used to serve in my restaurant before joining the hospice.
“It’s so important to us to get to know the patient and what they’d like to eat. We chefs love to chat to those we’re caring for and build a relationship with them so they can tell us exactly which dishes and ways of preparing food will bring them happiness.
Pictured here is Salvatore and his marinated tuna steak with porcini and sundried tomato risotto, fennel shavings and citrus balsamic dressing.
“If they have specific requirements such as difficulty swallowing, we can puree the food but make sure it still looks really tempting. If they find that spicy or citric flavours are too strong, we can adapt a sauce so it’s easier to eat.
“By making dishes which exactly suit a patient or visitor’s wishes, we can give them a meaningful moment of comfort, and also avoid waste which helps keep the hospice sustainable.”
We are currently recruiting for a chef. To learn more about our team and view all our current vacancies, visit Join our team.
