Residents, staff put new menu to the taste test
Monday, December 11, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
Potato-crusted cod and homemade soup are getting rave reviews at Rosebridge Manor as residents put OMNI’s fall-winter 2006-2007 new menu to the taste test.

“New menus were started in the home in November, says Nelly Hobbs, administrator of Rosebridge Manor.

“We are reviewing on a weekly basis with residents and getting great feedback.”

Kori Bigelow, nutritional care manager, agrees getting residents involved in critiquing items on the menu has been successful.

“They’ve gone over very well,” says Kori about the items on the menu.

She says there is a core group of residents who takes part in the evaluation and the feedback is helpful. “Also at meal time I go around table to table and troubleshoot,” she says. “I feel that’s a good way to do it. You’re right there."

For years, Rosebridge has made homemade soup for residents. “They absolutely love that.”

A few new products, including potato-crusted cod, are getting good reviews.

“It’s important the food looks good,” says Kori. “We like to let the food speak for itself.” For instance, while staff will accent dishes with paprika and parsley, the food alone has to make an impression.

The weekly reviews of the new menu were introduced to ensure residents are satisfied with what’s being served. “In the past, some of the recipes weren’t that great,” Kori says. “You have to tweak them before you put them out. We’ve had complaints. There’s a need to review it.”

Kori says residents who are cognitively well are more vocal about their likes and dislikes when it comes to food. “It’s good for us,” she says. “It makes us work harder.”

For instance, one time a resident mentioned she disliked the pancakes the kitchen was serving. At the time, the pancakes arrived pre-made and frozen. Staff started making them from scratch. It took a bit of getting used to, but now it’s a regular part of the menu.

The weekly review of OMNI’s fall-winter 2006-2007 menu takes place until the first menu cycle is over after four weeks. At that point, Rosebridge will return to making food review part of its monthly resident council meetings.

Staff has also had an active role in trying the new foods, says Kori. A taste-testing has been ongoing with different staff members trying the lunch and supper items and providing feedback. Kori and Nelly are compiling the comments, which Kori says are constructive.