In the first event of its kind, teams of chefs from four New York area hospitals faced off recently in a Health Care Culinary Challenge sponsored by the Greater New York Health Care Food Service Administrator's Association (HCFAA). The winning team from New York Presbyterian is shown here: (from l.) Clinical Nutrition Services Supervisor Michael Williams, RD; Executive Chefs Michael Kaplan and Vincent Comito, Site Administrator Lauren Robinson, RD, and Operations Manager Michael DeFilippo.

The other teams represented NYU Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which hosted the event. The winning team got a trophy that will be reclaimed by the winning team at the next event.

“We anticipate that this will be an annual event,” offers Sloan-Kettering Foodservice Director Veronica McLymont. She notes that the objective of the competition is to develop “dishes that are unique, nutritious and cost effective, and that could be promoted on hospital patient and cafeteria menus. This event will also provide a venue where culinary specialists in the healthcare environment can be be recognized for their contributions.”