Press Release
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital executive chef takes fresh approach to meal planning
For immediate release, July 1, 2010
Contact
Kyle Bauer, Public Relations Coordinator, 630-993-5702
ELMHURST – Jim Roth is no stranger to Farmers’ Markets. Each week during the season, the executive chef at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital’s café spends time sifting through local produce, searching for fresh ingredients to incorporate into his lunch menu.
“It doesn’t get much fresher than what you will find at a Farmers’ Market,” Roth said. “I like to see what local farmers have to offer and then create a meal to accompany it. It’s nice to be able to serve meals with produce that was in the ground only a few days earlier.”
Roth began his weekly visits to the local Farmers’ Market when he joined the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital staff in 2008, and the fresh, healthy meals have been well received by visitors and staff alike. “I try to buy only as much as I need so there are no leftovers,” he said. “But usually when I do this, the meals are sold out before lunch is over.”
Roth will share his knowledge on how to choose the best produce, as well as how to clean it, store it and then cook with it during Farmers’ Market 101, an event that will be held at three different local Farmers’ Markets in July and August.
First is a trip to the Lombard French Market on July 17. The event will begin at 3 p.m. at the Elmhurst Memorial Lombard Health Center (130 S. Main St., Lombard). Attendees will take a short walk to the French Market, where Roth will be your guide through the produce. The group will then return to the Lombard Health Center for more discussion. On July 24, Roth will be at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market (460 Lake St.) at 8 a.m. A final opportunity to join Roth will be at the Elmhurst Farmers’ Market (corner of York and Vallette Streets) on August 4. The Elmhurst session will begin at Good Earth Market (555 S. York St.) at 8 a.m. Along with Roth, this session includes an expert from Good Earth Market who will discuss produce selection and share a signature recipe. Attendees at each of the sessions will receive a reusable bag for produce as well as recipes. Registration is required by clicking here or calling CareMatch at (630) 782-7878, and there is a $5 fee per market fee.
“Going to a Farmers’ Market is a fun way to add some excitement to your meals,” Roth said. “Sometimes I have a general idea of what I am looking for, but a lot of times I like to wait and see what is available and then create an entire meal around it. That’s the fun part because it allows for a lot of creativity.”
Roth is known for infusing creativity into his dishes, having honed his skills at various restaurants throughout the area, including the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook and the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.
“I am very passionate about cooking, and I enjoy experimenting with different ingredients to develop healthy meals that taste great,” Roth said. “With so much locally grown produce available, it makes it easy to interject fresh ingredients into your meals.”