Baycrest

KOSHER KITCHEN PROGRESS REPORT | 2023 3 Importance of the Kitchen A great deal of thought and care goes into the creation of meals for residents and patients. New menus are introduced on an ongoing basis to appeal to the palates of the people being served. Managers of the hospital and Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, are involved, along with a dietitian, production supervisor and purchasing manager. Special dietary needs are always considered. Seasonal items are incorporated into meal plans. Throughout the year, the team takes into account the feedback and requests from residents on the food committee in the long-term care home. Residents will let us know if a particular dish is too salty, too spicy or too bland! Like many home cooks faced with divergent opinions, we aim to find solutions that will please the entire "family." What's next? A new menu will be launched November 20, and includes turkey cranberry loaf with sage gravy, roast beef with mushroom gravy, coconut pumpkin soup, baked rose rotini pasta with Parmesan cheese, souvlaki chicken, sweet and sour chicken leg, cream of vegetable soup, tomato and roasted pepper soup. Rema Jarvis-David, Program Director, Food & Nutrition Services, says that when she began in the kitchen years ago, the menu was fairly straightforward and focused on many of the most traditional Jewish foods — crowd-pleasers such as potato kugel, chicken matzah ball soup, roast chicken, beef cholent, cheesy noodles, cheese blintzes, herring and carrot tzimmes. At Passover, residents gather in the Wintergarden to take part in the Seder and enjoy gefilte fish and other items. Staff and volunteers ensure that residents have matzah, bitter herbs and other items at the right time. At Rosh Hashanah, we serve chopped liver, brisket and other special foods for the High Holidays. For Hanukkah, there will be latkes, of course, and jelly donuts. All of these dishes remain popular. Our seniors also enjoy salmon loaf, southern style chicken, BBQ chicken wings, baked rainbow trout and haddock in white wine sauce. In recent years, the team has noticed greater interest in variety and international cuisine Now, residents are also pleased to devour chicken shawarma, beef kebabs, chicken souvlaki and a vegetarian curry tofu dish. Sometimes, though, they will encounter a new offering they haven't heard of before and joke, "Do I have to bring a dictionary to the dining room?"

• Cover