Dear Jamie
You've set up your restaurant training young unemployed people. You've done schools. Could I suggest that you might now turn your attention to hospitals?
Hospital food is awful. It's like school food only far, far worse. I know there's a tight budget, but I have eaten well on a tight budget. It's possible.
Take soup. Each hospital I've been in or visited serves soup before lunch and dinner. How many people do you know that have soup before every meal? Soup as a starter is for Special Occasions. Soup in hospital - thin and unappetising - is not necessary. Have you tried languishing in bed (or flat on your back, as I was for six weeks) and dealing with soup? Many patients are old or frail. Soup is a challenge too far. And usually horrible. And an unnecessary extravagance.
Then there's the appearance of the meals. On one occasion, I recall removing the lid of something I'd apparently ordered, and weeping. I didn't know what it was meant to be, it looked like something you might see on a pavement outside a pub on a Friday night, and there was too much of it.
Just two examples, but you get my drift (I'll save the leather omelettes for another occasion).
So. Please could you do something? You have the clout that I lack. And in the past, I have had to feed a family on very little money, so would be happy to offer some ideas. Just in case you run out.
Yours etc.
PS I write having just fetched my thin, undernourished husband after two weeks in hospital, so my facts are fully up to date.
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I just hope Jamie is following your blog! My hubby has also spent two separate periods in hospital recently and the food was terrible. Something needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree, Maggie.
DeleteYour poor husband! I am sure he'll be well nourished again in no time, just make all his favourite meals for him :-)
ReplyDeleteThe last time (hopefully for a long time) I was in hospital, Sept. 2010 for a week, the food was alright. But when RJ was in hospital during our Majorcan holiday a month ago, the food was probably prepared with motivating people to leave their hospital bed as soon as possible in mind.
My father ended up in hospital in Rhodes, and the food was beyond awful!
DeleteThe lukewarm slop they dish up in hospitals is disgusting. You talk a great deal of sense, Frances - something needs to be done! x
ReplyDeleteThat's why I think Jamie should get stuck in, Teresa!
DeleteEverything about mealtimes in hospitals is awful , from the food to the unreachability of the wretched tray .
ReplyDeleteHusband should perk up quickly now he's at home . How about some real soup ?
Good idea!
DeleteI seem to live a charmed life. I recall the food in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where I spent some time one way and another as being quite palatable and reports from friends who have been in the Western Isles Hospital on Lewis have been favourable. I'm not a fussy eater mind you but I'm a good (and modest) cook and my standards are quite high so my judgement is not given lightly. So it can be done.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Scotland is better at this kind of thing, GB?
DeleteHope he's feeling and looking a lot better really soon, Frances, x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alis. He's already looking much better. I think he's just so glad to be home!
ReplyDeleteI think you should actually send this to Jamie Oliver, or his agents. Hope your husband is recovering well, Frances.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Rosemary. Do you know his address??
DeleteHusband doing well, thank you. Wife stir crazy!
A nondescript chicken salad followed by tinned fruit and ice-cream in hospital was the best meal i have ever eaten, served up after I had had my first child and had been starved all day.
ReplyDeleteconfess my limited experience of hospital food has been very positive but then I have always been glad for any meal I haven't cooked myself:-)
thanks for sharing
martine
That sounds delicious, Martine!
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