December 21, 2011

Martha Jefferson Hospital is shaking up things in the kitchen. They recently hired a new executive chef who is revamping the menu for patients and guests. In this week's Martha Jefferson Healthwise report CBS19's Stephanie Satchell has more on the new dining options and how dishes are playing a role in treatment for patients.

When it comes to recovering at Martha Jefferson Hospital you benefit from more than just good care and medication.

“Our caregivers on the front line see the patients, but overall the dinning experience to the comfort of the rooms to the care of the staff plays in to the positive outcome of the patients stay here,” said Bryan Holleman, Executive Chef, Martha Jefferson Hospital.

Bryan Holleman is Martha Jefferson's new executive chef. He was brought on to enhance patient meals and food in Martha's Garden Café.

“I've brought a lot of experience from past restaurants and banquets and tried to integrate them into our new menu.

That menu includes some new items.

“We've taken lemon peppered fish off of the menu and we replaced it with baked cod with tropical salsa and we added cilantro and red peppers to give it that tropical influence,” said Holleman.

A few traditional dishes are also on the menu, but with an added twist.

“We had a traditional meatloaf. So we've taken that and put turkey on (the menu) to reduce the fat. We've also incorporated some cabbage so we've got fiber added to it and half the amount of fat compared to beef and still great flavor,” said Holleman.

New options that Chef Holleman says could play a positive role in a patients recovery.

“I look at the patients as they have three meals a day. So each meal is important it helps to heal. There's been studies done that say patients that have good meals heal faster,” said Holleman.

That's the goal at Martha Jefferson Hospital to get patients well and back on their feet. So, why not have a few tasty meals while they're recuperating.