This Christmas, the Food Services team is cooking up more than just meals: they’re serving a special dose of comfort and joy to those spending their holidays in hospital.
PAH A/Manager Food Services, Jason Budd is the Head Elf overseeing the Christmas menu, which will feature a heartwarming spread set to lift the spirits of every patient.
“Being away from your family and friends on any special occasion is difficult for patients, and we know Christmas can be especially hard. My first priority is making sure everyone gets fed and no one misses out,” explained Jason.
With eight years of experience in the PAH Kitchen including four Christmases, Jason takes pride in carefully designing the famous PA Christmas menu, ensuring every plate is wrapped with care.
“In the morning, we'll be running with scrambled egg, baked tomato with cheese, and fresh bacon. For lunch, patients will enjoy a turkey and ham duo on a bed of mash and cranberry sauce, with a side of roast pumpkin, minted peas and gravy,” he explained.
The icing on the cake? A serve of fresh fruit pavlova for every patient.
"For dinner, we have baked fish with roast veggies. As a bonus for that, they'll also get a warm Christmas pudding with some custard,” Jason said.
And that’s not all! Patients will also enjoy stone fruit, Christmas cake, and cream biscuits with their teas and coffees.
Adding an extra sprinkle of Christmas spirit, Jason and his team have prepared handwritten Christmas cards and sweet treats for patients (where clinically appropriate).
“There is something special about Christmas Day, wherever you are. It's that time of year when everyone wants to celebrate and be with people, and that spirit of giving at Christmas is special wherever you work in the hospital,” he said.
With more than 2,500 meals to be delivered on Christmas Day, the Food Services team is following a detailed plan to ensure every tray arrives on time.
“It takes a lot of organisation, and we have great supervisors and staff who make it happen. We’ve also done our biggest recruitment this year, so we’re ready to handle the extra workload and any surprises along the way,” explained Jason.
Special thanks to our dedicated kitchen staff, and all PAH staff giving up time with their loved ones to bring care, comfort, and a little Christmas magic to the PAH community this holiday season.