Local hospital chef is part of winning culinary team

Three hospital chefs with more than 50 years cumulative experience won the top prize for their original India-inspired, three-course menu at Northwell Health”™s Fifth Annual Ultimate Healthy Cooking Challenge.

Janisa Freysinet of North Shore University Hospital, Patricia Sobel of Northern Westchester Hospital, and Russell Ficke of Syosset Hospital competed against chefs from 15 hospitals in the New York metropolitan area at Glen Cove Hospital, creating restaurant-quality meals while keeping fat, calories and sodium in healthy ranges.

Though they”™d never cooked together, their winning menu of Gobi dumplings, cauliflower steak chana masala, and meringues with pineapple and peaches took the top honor.

The event featuring 5 culinary teams of 3 chefs coincided with National Nutrition Month. Each team had 60 minutes to create tasty, attractive and nutritious meals for three scoring judges and one for the presentation table. Hospital culinary teams were paired with registered dieticians and interns from Northwell Health hospitals to ensure the meals were less than or equal to 700 calories, 15 grams of fat and 750 milligrams of sodium.

Adding to the challenge was a “surprise protein” (fish, meat or chicken) ”” chefs also had the option of choosing vegetarian protein ”” around which to build their meals.

“The Ultimate Chef Challenge highlights how our chefs are able to inspire delicious and nutritious meals, not only for our patients but for ourselves,” Dr. Robert E. Graham, director of integrative health and wellness at Northwell Health, and one of the judges, said.