In other places, hospital food often ranks up there with airplane meals and school lunches on people’s list of least appetizing offerings. But this is South Louisiana, where we take pride in our mastery of flavor – and St. Tammany Health System’s Food and Nutrition Services team is no different.
So, while they often must make concessions to patients’ dietary restrictions and general healthfulness, the health system’s mealtime maestros make sure to do it in style.
That’s not just talk, either. How many other hospitals do you know that have had one of their recipes reprinted in the local newspaper at a reader’s request?
St. Tammany has. And that brings us to today’s mouthwatering installment in 70 for 70, our ongoing series highlighting various artifacts from St. Tammany Health System’s history leading up to its 70th anniversary later this year.
Installment No. 36: What's cookin'?
Today’s artifact: A yellowed newspaper clipping containing St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s recipe for BLT Soup, as reprinted in The Times-Picayune in 1992 at the request of a pair of readers.
Why they are significant: Some dishes are good for the heart. St. Tammany’s recipe for BLT Soup is not one – but, as Times-Picayune readers F. and W.S. of Metairie can attest, it sure is good for the soul.
They’re the ones who wrote to former T-P cooking columnist Myriam Guidroz in summer 1992 with the following request: “Can you get us the recipe for the bacon-lettuce-and-tomato soup that the St. Tammany Hospital serves in the cafeteria? It’s delicious.”
Like any good Louisianan, former Director of Dietary Operations Kathleen R. Hill and her team were flattered by the request, which they were only too happy to provide.
In was so good, the paper ran it twice – once in response to F. and W.S., followed a couple of weeks later by a corrected version. Find that corrected version below – and enjoy!
Should you give it a try, let us know how it was by dropping us a line at CommDept@stph.org.
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 37: Here comes the (population) boom
Last week – Installment No. 35: Petal power