Mater Brisbane recruits celeb chef for food overhaul

Hospital food is notoriously bad, now one of Brisbane’s biggest infirmaries is set to change that, recruiting a star chef to reinvent its offering.

Hospital food is going gourmet with one of Brisbane’s biggest infirmaries hiring a top celebrity chef to overhaul its culinary offering, introducing a new plant-focused menu designed to improve health and wellbeing.

The Mater has recruited revered Aussie chef Luke Mangan to create hospital food that’s as nutritious as it is delicious, packed with fruit, vegetables and whole foods.

Mater executive chef Aman Marwah, chef Luke Mangan and Mater dietitian Sally McCray.

“Mater patients are getting restaurant-style dishes prepared by a team of extraordinary chefs and talented dietitians who are up to date with the latest research on how food helps us heal and enhances our wellbeing,” Mr Mangan said.

“There are vegetarian and vegan options as well as dishes with lean protein like lamb, chicken and fish but the focus of every meal is on whole, plant-based ingredients and low or refined, processed food.”

Mater director of dietetics and food services Sally McCray said the new menu was designed to help boost patients’ immune systems, reduce inflammation and improve gut microbiome.

“Eating more fruit and vegetables is one of the most important ways we can improve our health and wellbeing and at no other time is this more critical than when we are recovering in hospital,” Ms McCray said.

A three-course meal including Moroccan-spiced quail and grilled mushroom with salsa at Mater Brisbane.

Dishes on the new menu include Moroccan-spiced quail with zucchini, pine nuts and currants; grilled field mushrooms with fresh corn salsa and roasted tomato and lemongrass soup.

While traditional desserts of jelly and ice-cream have been replaced by gourmet options like coconut rice pudding with lychees, passion fruit and mango; and grilled pineapple with lime chilli glaze and coconut yoghurt.

Patients can also order cold pressed juices, including a cucumber, celery and apple option as well as a watermelon, lemon and mint mix.