“Food is our common ground,” once famously said James Beard, founder and president of The James Beard Foundation and The James Beard Award – one of the highest honors for culinary professionals in the U.S. His comment was simple, but true and one the professionally trained, talented and experienced chefs and dietary staff of Hillcrest South believe is just as true in a hospital environment as it is in the home or at a restaurant. Hospital food, as it has unaffectionately been referred to, is turning over a new leaf – The Green Leaf at Hillcrest South – offering patients room service dining with a variety of nutritious and diet-sensitive selections in a fine dining presentation. It is available simply by picking up the phone and ordering right off the menu – for every meal during the patient’s stay.
Director of Food and Nutritional Services at Hillcrest South Sonja Stolfa, RD/LD says, “Our goal is to make our patients and visitors feel like they are guests in our home where they deserve the best."
To officially launch the new menu, tastings were held throughout the hospital all week for doctors, nurses and staff to see and taste the items available for patient in-room dining, as well as for guests and employees in The Green Leaf cafeteria. 
From the popular Mandarin Asian Chicken Salad, to quesadillas, a club sandwich and desserts – apple pie, cheesecake, brownie and angel food cake – excitement continued to build throughout the week. “The Green Leaf room service menu boosts patient centered care as it offers comfort and convenience,” shared Hillcrest South registered dietitian Stephanie Harris, MS, RD/LD. “Patients tend to eat better at the hospital when they select their own meals, and our goal is to encourage adequate nutritional intake to support healing. Nutrition plays an important and complimentary role with medical therapies that together award our patients at Hillcrest South the best opportunity for recovery.”
The menu, available daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. seven days a week, features patient-approved dishes tested through a pilot menu several weeks prior to the new menu launch Thursday. Menu items are labeled for quick nutritional reference – indicating which selections are high-sodium and heart-healthy. The number of carbohydrates is also listed for patients monitoring carbohydrates. Nurses also have detailed lists for menu items compliant with various dietary needs and are available to help patients order at any time. Registered dietitians are also available upon request to assist with appropriate menu selections for patients.
“The focus of our new room service menu is patient satisfaction,” explains Hillcrest South registered dietitian Nasrin Sinichi, MS, RD/LD. “Food choice is an important area where patients have greater control.
Patients who stay longer in a the hospital are more likely to have severe conditions, a higher tendency to lose their appetites and to eat less food. Meeting the patient’s dietary requirements is necessary and important to aid in their recovery. Our room service menu will ensure a standard of nutritional quality, balance, palatability, while offering more flexible food choices.”
While perusing the menu, patients and visitors can also learn more about Hillcrest South chefs Louis Rois, trained in the art of traditional French cuisine at the Culinary Art Institute of New York, and Terrian Latouche, a native of Jamaica who spent years working at her brother’s restaurant Hibiscus and trained professionally in Platt College’s culinary arts program. Together, they bring culinary expertise married with a sound dietary understanding to bring flavorful and nutritious items to The Green Leaf.
Guest trays are available for purchase for $7. One complimentary guest tray is available for the birth partner on Labor and Delivery. To place room service orders, please call extension 4054 or 918-294-4054. Any Hillcrest South nurse, patient or family member may call to order service for the patient.