Local Lebanese Chef Livens Up Galichia Heart Hospital’s Menu

By Andi Atwater, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

Feb. 21–Lebanese chef George Youssef is expanding his Mediterranean flair beyond his popular Nouvelle Cafe in east Wichita. At the urging of several physicians who often each lunch there, Youssef now finds himself spicing up the routine fare in the cafeteria at nearby Galichia Heart Hospital, transforming the ordinary into attractive, healthy cuisine.

“They were looking for somebody to bring some new ideas to the cafeteria,” said Youssef, who was a partner at Uptown Bistro before buying Nouvelle eight months ago.

“One of the doctors wanted to bring… not just Mediterranean, but healthy food, period, to the hospital,” he said. “My main goal right now is trying new ideas and changing the menu for employees and patients.”

New dishes, such as Monday’s roasted tomato with spinach salad over chicken, have attracted the attention of staff and patients alike.

Last week, at least 30 people lined up for lunch at once, a fairly unusual site at the fledgling hospital, chief executive Steve Harris said.

“People are actually standing in line in the cafeteria now,” he said.

“When you’re in the hospital, food becomes a very important part of what can be a routine day. So we invited Chef George to come work for us and prepare very tasty, very visually appealing food.”

Youssef is working closely with the hospital’s dietitians and food preparation staff to train them on creating low-sodium, low-fat foods in a professional way, administrators said.

“We had very dedicated employees that had worked in food service, but they’re not chefs,” Harris said. “We’re very excited about this.”

For the past few decades, hospitals have increasingly moved away from bland, generic foods to the notion that food service could be an added amenity for staff and patients.

They hire professionally trained staff from renowned culinary institutes and often feature some of the best cafeteria food in an area.

Via Christi Regional Medical Center’s executive chef, Linda Wenman, for example, trained in London. As part of her education, she once cooked for Prince Charles, hospital officials said.

Since hiring her in 1992, Via Christi has won numerous national awards, including the 2004 Silver Plate award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association and the 2005 Ivy Award, given by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine.

Reach Andi Atwater at 316-268-6642 or aatwater@wichitaeagle.com [mailto:aatwater@wichitaeagle.com].

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

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