Ahhh, the memories

When I was younger I spent a bit of time in the hospital (over 20 surgeries between 5-14); so I, consequently, spent a lot of time eating hospital food. At first when I read this article I was wondering what the hell was wrong with these people. But, then I remembered how I would stand outside of the cafeteria at the children's hospital in Chicago begging for muffins. It was also a great treat when I actually got to eat INSIDE of the cafeteria. There was a nice ambiance, great food, and it was conveniently located within the same building of the bastards who broke my legs twice a year. Ahhhh, the memories.

Hospital Cafeteria a Hot Spot for Dining DEFIANCE, Ohio - Forget any of the old jokes about hospital food. The cafeteria at the Defiance Regional Medical Center is one of the most popular places to brunch on Sundays. "People look at us kind of funny when we say we're going to the hospital to eat," said Margie Slocum, 65, of Defiance. "You never think of a hospital as a restaurant." A growing group of residents have taken to eating at the cafeteria for very simple reasons — they like the food and it's cheap. The medical center has seen the number of meals served at the cafeteria on Sundays double since the first of the year. Among the items on the menu are pecan-crusted cod along with shrimp and chicken jambalaya. And there's always a vase of fresh flowers at the salad bar. "It's about the best restaurant in town," Slocum said. She believes word-of-mouth has made the cafeteria a success. Slocum and her husband, David, take their children and friends to the hospital for meals, where one person can eat for about $3. Hospitals in general are becoming more creative in their culinary-customer service offerings, said Mary Yost, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Hospital Association. She said a stigma about hospital food still exists, but she said many people are aware of and appreciate good hospital meals. "I think this may be a pretty well-kept secret from the public at large," she said. "But people familiar with hospitals are aware that hospitals are making great strides with their food." On an average Sunday, the medical center in Defiance sees about 125 people for brunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Only a few of the customers are hospital patients or employees. Because of the popularity of the brunch, hospital officials are thinking about extending the brunch hours, said Jim Meyer, director of the hospital's food and nutritional services. "If you open a cafeteria and have good food, you will be successful, no matter what," Meyer said. A former restaurant and hotel chef, Meyer created the Sunday brunch shortly after he started his job in January at the hospital about 48 miles southwest of Toledo. The cafeteria also has a catering service and may one day copy other hospitals that offer room service to patients.

So, if you are ever hard-up for a cheap meal, make a stop at the richest hospital in the area. You might find a 4-star meal at a 1-star price. Or, more likely, you will wind up being labeled as a freak for going to a hospital to eat, you fucking ass!