Sysco Food show

As usual, we ate a lot at the Sysco food show.

I have to say that it was not as nice as I had expected it to be....

Miscellaneous pictures that were taken...

A decoration idea---

Another update of the construction project

Half way through the project, Administration wanted to thank all the East Campus and Behavioral Medicine Center Employees for all the hard work and dedication. Hence, a party was thrown, along with gift certificates for everyone. :)

We received the "A PLAYER" award for great team work during this construction period. :)

A picture of how we transport food from East Campus to BMC...via truck and cambrio containers, several times a day!

Picture of the walk-in refrigerator and freezers work in progress...

Going back to the kitchen, finally, the pipes have been replaced!

Cement is poured onto the sand...

Waiting for it to dry out...

Update of BMC Kitchen Renovation

Finally - the sewage pipes are replaced...

More plannings of the type of tiles and carpet to be used in the cafeteria...

BMC Kitchen Construction Project

I am not lamenting but last Monday, I worked from 4.30 Am to 8.30 PM.
Last week's working hours amounted to 75. On top of that, I was on call that weekend too.
I've been working non-stop since the start of our construction project on July 13. It's been a long waited project that needed approvals from various governing boards. We finally received the last blessings and was able to start the sewage waste line repair, along with the addition of a walk-in freezer. It will take approximately 44 working days to complete.

In the meantime, the whole kitchen is shut down and we do not have access to water, ice, or any food in our kitchen. All the food production is done off site at East Campus and brought over in the van. A lot of food safety measures are taken to ensure that the food served is safe for consumption and within regulatory guidelines.

A temporary wall built at the previous hot deck to separate the cafeteria from the kitchen. Patient tray line is done in the cafeteria. It almost seems like we are "camping" with limited space and have to make do with simplicity.
This is a wonderful learning experience. I am glad for wonderful staff who are supportive and willing to adapt to the new working arrangements. :) May God bless this project as we pull through this together. The results will be worth it!
A brand new walk-in refrigerator and freezer. :)

Student's test recipes

Dietitian Student, T, is rotating with me this whole summer. I am excited to have her because unlike other students, she is a Chef with a culinary background working on her masters in Public Health Nutrition. She has been testing recipes, analyzing them and modifying it so as to fit it into the cardiac wellness guideline. So far, the food she has made made were simple but delicious!

Here are some pictures of what she made today. (These pictures were taken from my iphone...)

Same hummus used for sandwich and Vegetable dip.

Grilled Salmon's "fishy" taste is mellowed with the cucumber yogurt dill sauce.

This low-fat applesauce brownie is moist. Definitely a keeper-recipe.

Christmas Breakfast- BMC 2008

Menu:
Petite Spinach Quiche
Blueberry and Cream Cheese Blintzers with Apple Or strawberry Topping
Roasted garlic Potatoes with Red & Green Bell Pepper
Cream Puffs Christmas Tree
Fresh Fruit Bowl
Fuji Apples
Hot Chocolate W/ Marshmallows, whipped cream, Cinnamon and Chocolate sticks
Coffee W/ Condiments and Hazelnut & French Vanilla Creamers
Prepping for the Cream Puffs Christmas Tree & Chocolate-dipped Strawberry Tree

To make the above Cream Puffs Tree, check out these websites:
www.baking911.com/recipes/pastry/croquembouche.htm
www.deboerfood.com/minidessert_ideabook.html
members.coz.net/jjschnebel/crqmbche.html



Before the set-up of food:



The Final Set-up with chafing dishes, and food...

Everyone received a Candy cane - with individualized holiday greeting...

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration
Is being wreathed in smiles :)
And now these three remain:
Faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13Christmas is not as much
about opening our presents
As opening our hearts.
-Janice Maeditere

It is Christmas in the heart
That puts Christmas in the air.
- W.T. Ellis

May Peace be your gift at Christmas
And your blessing all year through.May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,

The gladness of Christmas give you hope,

The warmth of Christmas grant you love.Christmas is not as much
about opening our presents
As opening our hearts.

Merry Christmas!! :)

Christmas

is coming! :) It is a much-anticipated time of the year when I would pull out Christmas CD or reminiscent beautiful memories of the holidays. This website~http://pandora.com/ is able to play any selection of Christmas songs I fancy and I am listening to it as I type this sentence now. :)

We just did a Christmas party that the Nursing Director of LLUBMC threw for her Nurse managers. One of the items is Specialty breads basket. There are times when ordinary breads will do. And there are times when only extraordinary will suffice. Times like...holiday parties. And hence, I went to 3 stores to purchase these breads...

with homemade spreads~ fresh apple butter, whipped peanut butter, maple butter and jelly...

Made-to-order burrito wrapped by head chef on-site. Filling option includes sausage, egg, hash, potatoes. Tortilla options are sundried tomato, white and whole wheat.

I thought I would post up the thank-you notes from the director and her assistant as it serves as a reminder to constantly provide the best customer service and going the extra mile. :)

~~:~~

The Nursing director sent an email of thanks, "Hi Cherry, Thank you for setting us up today. That was very special breakfast. I truly enjoy working with you. Sincerely, Norie

~~:~~

Her assistant's email read, "Cherry and Kristine, thanks so much to both of you and your staff for really making our little party very special!! Your hard work and dedication to your craft really shows in everything that was done to make our party really awesome! Please know how appreciated you all are! Much gratitude, Traci"

~~:~~