Many of Cura’s operations are supporting local farms and restaurants through COVID-19. Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills, PA, recently established a local partnership with Triple B Farms based out of Monongahela, PA. Celebrating 35 years of family, food and fun, Triple B Farms grows fruits and vegetables, and in addition, offers freshly baked goods, homemade fudge and gift baskets. According to Matt Sherwin, general manager of dining services at Jefferson Hospital, “our goal was to keep it simple and offer, when in season, strawberries, zucchini and asparagus. For example, we used the strawberries in the angel food cake as it’s very low in fat and a good dessert choice.”
The zucchini was sautéed to complement chicken Marsala featured as a BeWell item in the J Café, while fresh asparagus was offered as an a la carte food option or to enjoy as a side with grilled rosemary chicken and roasted redskin potatoes from the Spoon and Fork retail station!
Triple B Farms even offers homemade strawberry doughnuts, a hit for breakfast customers at Jefferson. Truly the perfect take-out combo with a cup of “joe!” Patients are also enjoying flavorful farm to fork meals prepared by our culinary team at Jefferson Hospital. A house- made chicken stir fry was prepared with farm fresh onions, and red and green peppers grown and harvested at Triple B Farms.
In other farm to plate news, the dining team at Presbyterian Senior Living at Westminster Woods in Huntingdon, PA, treat their independent living residents to an “Artisan Cheese Wagon” offering five Italian inspired cheeses, including a wild mushroom cheese and bruschetta cheese from local cheese maker, “Friends Farm,” in Williamsburg, PA. Served with grilled flat bread, fresh grapes, a mini cannoli, and complimentary regular and non-alcoholic wine. Kudos to Chefs Paul, Robert, Dante and the entire team at West Woods! Even bagels are purchased locally. Westminster Woods residents and staff enjoy freshly baked bagels packaged and personally delivered from The Garlic Clove – Grab and Go Kitchen – a local eatery in Huntingdon.
Cura communities are even growing their own! Pickering Manor residents at this Newtown, PA community are enjoying fresh from the garden purple basil, cucumbers, rosemary, Greek oregano, lemon thyme, sage, strawberry mint, garlic chives and San Marzano yellow and orange tomatoes. A special shout out to Jon Bibic, Cura production manager, who tends and cares for the 10×12 garden so residents can savor these delicious herbs and vegetables with their entrees, in their salad and as a garnish!
For those communities who don’t have the space to grow their own, Cura teams offer farmer’s markets for residents and staff such as the one recently held at Lutheran Seniorlife at the Passavant in Zelienople, PA. Where else can you savor fresh from the garden produce and baked goods made in house including strawberry rhubarb and peach pies, as well as Danish and fruit breads. The team also offered homemade peach and strawberry jams!
Allegheny Health Network’s Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights, PA, also hosted a mini farmer’s market. Staff could select from vine ripened tomatoes, compact tomatoes, red, green and banana peppers, zucchini, corn on the cob, cucumbers, and gala apples! No need to stop at the grocery store here, staff selected from what they needed on their way home from work.
