Heartfelt Hospitality

It’s 11 a.m. on a Tuesday and the lunch crowd is steadily trickling into the Cape Cod Hospital cafeteria. The frontline workers are greeting customers, serving Verde bowls with fajita spiced chicken and cilantro lime rice, and preparing made-to-order deli sandwiches. 

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, team members are hustling in the kitchen, slicing zucchini, chopping potatoes, and dicing onions, peppers and tomatoes to prepare for the next day’s meals. Another worker is carefully pouring JELL-O into plastic cups for the patient line. The fast-paced environment is all in a day’s work, which starts at 4 a.m. for the first shift workers. 

“It’s a dance,” says Executive Chef Jill Sanger, adding behind every meal is a well-run team that runs like clockwork. “Everyone plays a vital role here to make sure everything runs smoothly.” 

Over at Falmouth Hospital, a similar scene plays out. The environment may be lower key, but the dedicated food service team moves to the same rhythm and cadence to run a timely and seamless operation.

Lead kitchen helper George Minos, who started in food services at Cape Cod Hospital in 2014 and transferred to Falmouth Hospital in 2015, says some of his favorite meals are pot roast, cod and salmon. “It’s a great environment to work in,” says George, who often works the patient line and gives a thumbs up when the trays are ready to go. 

From preparing meals that meet complex dietary needs to serving up a warm smile, the food service teams serve not only nourishing meals, but also deliver comfort and care. 

The Dish!

We compiled a few interesting tidbits for each hospital:

We recently visited both hospitals to capture a slice of life and the faces behind the food service teams.
Enjoy clicking through the slideshow of photos (click arrow, below right).

Cook Jesse preps potatoes for the next day’s breakfast at Cape Cod Hospital.

Cook Cleiton has worked in food services at Cape Cod Hospital for 23 years.

Cook Donny, known to serve up some humor on the food services team, slices tomatoes at Falmouth Hospital.

Executive Chef Jill Sanger displays a tray of potatoes for spud day at Cape Cod Hospital.

Patient line cook Peter dishes out an entrée for the patient line at Falmouth Hospital.

Executive Chef Jill Sanger and Patient Supervisor Robyn Cutler oversee the food services team at Cape Cod Hospital.

Food service associates Lynn and Deb, left to right, assemble food orders in the patient food service line at Cape Cod Hospital.

Rebecca Thurmond, patient services manager at Falmouth Hospital, lends a helping hand in the patient service line.

Kitchen helper Natalie places expiration dates on rolls at Falmouth Hospital.

Food services associate Thom prepares made-to-order deli sandwiches at Cape Cod Hospital.

Food services associate Greg methodically pours JELL-O into plastic cups for the patient line at Cape Cod Hospital. Greg works the cold production station where the food is prepped and assembled for patients.

Lead kitchen helper George, who has worked in food services at Falmouth Hospital for nearly 10 years, gives a thumbs up when patient trays are ready to go.

The Cape Cod Hospital food services team delivers service with a smile. From left to right: Patty, Jill, Luba, Thom, Rayane and Denis.

Cook Mike works the grill at Falmouth Hospital.

Patient line cook John nourishes patients with care at Falmouth Hospital.

Rebecca knocks on a patient’s door at Falmouth Hospital before entering the room with a tray of comfort food.