Move aside green Jell-O and Salisbury steak – the hospital cafeteria at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is going gourmet.  Chef Paul McCabe is teaming up with the hospital kitchen staff to prepare a gourmet holiday meal for the medical executive committee meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

The menu for the dinner includes:

• Hiramasa crudo (sashimi), shaved fennel salad, smoked duck cracklings, and sake steelhead roe
• Colorado lamb loin and seared scallops, goat cheese gratin, Swiss chard, smoked cabernet reduction
• Warm chocolate volcano cake, cappuccino gelato

The partnership is the brainchild of the hospital’s chief of staff John Spinosa, MD. Dr. Spinosa will be working alongside Chef McCabe and James Johnson, hospital chef and kitchen supervisor, and other select hospital kitchen staff to prepare the gourmet meal for the 22 physician leaders.

“I wanted to thank the food services department for all of their hard work and dedication by offering this opportunity to work alongside Chef McCabe,” says Dr. Spinosa. “It is my hope that this unique chance to work with one of San Diego’s top culinary minds will be a fun, inspirational and educational experience for the hospital’s kitchen staff.”