Chef Tim is one of our culinary experts dedicated to creating memorable entrées and desserts that taste just as amazing as they look. We sat down with him recently to learn more about his culinary journey and his experience at Heart to Home Meals!
How did you learn to cook?
I actually didn’t start off like most chefs do – I first went to business school and it was there when I developed a passion for food. I began learning how to cook for myself and would look up recipes to make and get inspiration from watching the Food Network. After I graduated, I followed my passion and went right to culinary school. I then worked in restaurants, at hotels, and other places within the field. That road led me to a program in food and nutrition and I then began working for Heart to Home Meals.
Take us through what a typical day looks like for you.
As a menu developer, my days typically consist of managing different projects on the go. I’m always working on the next menu for Heart to Home Meals so projects can consist of coming up with ideas for new menu items and doing nutritional analyses of our meals.
What is your process usually like when creating new meals?
When we introduce new meals, we usually generate our ideas by surveying customers and determining what they’d like to see on the menu. We then look through our previous brochures and see if any new items could be added to make our range more well-rounded. We also research previous recipes and see if any meals should be redeveloped... we like to see which meals have been the most popular and why so we can integrate those aspects into creating our new dishes.
Why do you think Heart to Home Meals is a good option for seniors compared to supermarket meals?
Supermarket meals often contain high amounts of sodium and lack nutritional value. Although these meals might be okay to have occasionally, they’re not an everyday solution. Our food is specifically designed for seniors to consume on a daily basis. We put a lot of our effort into the nutritional aspects of our meals and try to source ingredients that you might find in your everyday kitchen. Our recipes are traditional at heart which often brings a lot of comfort to our customers who are looking for home-cooked options.
Which Heart to Home meals are your favorite?
My favorite meals are the Salisbury Steakette with Barbecue Sauce, the Fisherman’s Pie, the Chicken Pot Pie, and of course our Macaroni and Cheese – that one’s always a classic.
Thanks for sharing, Chef Tim! Keep your eyes out for more content relating to our Heart to Home Meals Chefs... coming soon!
