Local Food Heroes - Stephen Wheeler talks to Tracy Morgan-Roberts of the Sue Ryder Care Hospice
Tracy Morgan-Roberts has to be a most versatile, creative and knowledgeable cook. She has been Head Chef for six years at the Sue Ryder Care Hospice in Cheltenham, where the patients suffer with life-threatening illnesses. Each single patient has a different dietary need whether that’s a lifestyle choice such as vegetarianism, or for religious, or medical reasons. In the latter case Tracy liaises with the Hospice doctors or takes advice from Hospital nutritionists. There are also staff and visiting family members to look after on a 24 hour basis. In all, the small kitchen brigade of four, caters for around 50 people a day, including visitors to the Day Hospice. I talked to Tracy in her spotlessly clean kitchen. “We have a five-star food hygiene rating,” she said, “our patients needs require nothing less.”
All the meals Tracy prepares are made from fresh ingredients, but her soups have become something of a legend at Sue Ryder. “They are nutritious, light, comforting and easy to eat,” Tracy told me, “but most of all I love making cakes and desserts. Classic English puddings such as treacle tart and spotted dick are the patient’s favourites.” Patients’ special requests are also catered for whenever possible. “One patient would have dearly loved to visit Paris, but had never got around to doing it. The Creative Arts Therapies Co-ordinator and volunteers made an Eiffel tower and an Arc de Triomph, and served famous French dishes all through the day; fresh croissants, French onion soup, Coq-au-vin and crepes suzettes. “Other special requests have included a patient who asked for rabbit pie for dinner, because his wife had never quite had the stomach make it at home!, which we were happy to do.” I asked Tracy whether she had to work to a budget. “Of course we have to be careful what we spend – as we depend predominantly on charitable donations. We do have a budget, but we are here to care for patients, and we’ll do whatever we can to please them,” she smiled
Tracy likes to use locally sourced food whenever possible, and supports local suppliers such as Creed Foodservice. “Creed provides a superb service to Sue Ryder, and the company has been a staunch supporter of our work here for many years,” she said. Good food and great chefs aren’t just the preserve of expensive restaurants, and Tracy at the Sue Ryder Care Hospice is certainly a five-star example.
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8th May 2010
Tracy Morgan-Roberts
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