TWO CELEBRATED SAN DIEGO CHEFS JOIN CULINARY TEAM AT SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL

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July 28, 2015 (La Mesa)--Hospital food that’s not only healthy, but also savory, full of fresh ingredients, and visually stunning?  That’s what two celebrated San Diego chefs plan to cook up when they redesign the kitchen menu at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. These culinary experts collective experience includes cooking up feasts for heads of state, rock stars and other celebrities, starring on cooking shows, serving as top chefs at resorts and top hotels, plus winning a Culinary Olympics competition.

As the new executive chefs at Sharp Grossmont, Larry Banares and William Sauer bring their extensive culinary talents to the Sodexo team at Sharp Grossmont, which operates food and nutrition services at the La Mesa hospital. 

Banares will be responsible for designing and orchestrating meal service for the hospital’s inpatient units, while Sauer will oversee retail operations, which include the Café and catering services.

A fixture on the San Diego culinary scene, Chef Larry Banares is well known to San Diego foodies. Prior to his role as executive chef at Rady Children’s Hospital, he hosted bi-weekly cooking segments on KGTV, two cable cooking shows and a popular radio program.  A three-time gold medalist in the Culinary Olympics and certified executive chef by the American Culinary Federation, Banares was at the helm at such California landmarks as the Disneyland Hotel and Queen Mary.

Banares has the distinction of cooking for political dignitaries and celebrities, including the late pop sensation Michael Jackson.  He has prepared his award-winning cuisines for other famous personalities including Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga, various presidents of the Philippines, and the Sultan of Brunei.  

Sauer comes to Sharp Grossmont after launching upscale dining venues such as downtown San Diego’s Marble Room and Delicias Restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe.  He was the executive chef at The Great Oak Steakhouse at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.  His unique style of cooking stems from his experiences in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, where he fused California cuisine with a southwestern influence.

After moving through the ranks at some of the most illustrious companies in San Diego – including the Lodge at Torrey Pines and the Bahia Resort – Sauer was named executive sous chef at the Catamaran Resort.  He is a certified Chef de Cuisine by the American Culinary Federation.

“We’re thrilled to have these two powerhouses in our kitchen,” said Scott Evans, CEO, Sharp Grossmont Hospital.  “The goal of our food and dining experiences at Sharp Grossmont is to tempt patients’ appetites, meet their nutritional needs and provide enjoyable and memorable dining experiences with a large selection of appealing food choices.  Chef Larry’s and Chef Bill’s world-class experiences will surely influence our patient satisfaction in a positive way.”

The two chefs join the team at a time when Sharp Grossmont is stepping up efforts to improve quality and safety while enhancing the patient and guest experience at the hospital.

Hospital food service has dramatically improved in the past decade. The national push for healthier eating options in schools and restaurants has prompted hospitals to eliminate fried foods, cut down on unnecessary fats and increase the use of whole grains, herbs and locally sourced produce.

Hospitals like Sharp Grossmont are seeing a return to comfort foods and a focus on getting patients to eat while they are in the hospital in order to promote their healing and recovery. Banares and Sauer will help ensure the hospital delivers delicious and nutritious food choices to get patients back on the road to recovery.

Sharp Grossmont’s efforts are part of a national campaign to improve the health and sustainability of the health care sector, called the Healthier Hospitals Initiative. This effort encourages hospitals to set an example by serving healthy food and beverages, which includes reducing the amount of meat and sugary beverages while increasing the percentage of locally grown food. The hospital also launched its Mindful Patient Menu and Mindful Café last December, a unique approach to wellness that focuses on transparency of ingredients, robust flavor profiles and satisfying portions.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital has been serving the East County community for 60 years. It is the largest not-for-profit, full-service acute care hospital in San Diego’s East County and is part of Sharp HealthCare, which received the 2007 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence. The hospital is known for its clinical excellence in emergency and critical care; cardiac and cancer care; surgery; stroke care; orthopedics; rehabilitation; behavioral health; women’s and children’s health; and hospice care. The hospital offers extensive outpatient services and prevention programs such as home infusion, sleep disorder care, wound care and hyperbaric medicine to support Sharp HealthCare’s emphasis on community health and wellness. To learn more, visit www.sharp.com/grossmont, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277) or follow us Facebook.

 


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