More Than a Meal: How the Blossom Café Team Creates Comfort and Connection

This article is part of our celebration recognizing Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week, which takes place Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10. 

The Blossom Café at Shriners Children’s Boston provides a unique source of healing outside the clinical setting, nourishing patients and families through food, kindness, connection and community.

For those navigating long days and extended medical stays, comfort can come from the relationships formed while enjoying a meal in the hospital dining area. Patients, families and staff share meals at the Blossom Café and experience meaningful moments. “People come from all over the world to our hospital,” said Bob Trepicchio, manager of nutrition services at Shriners Children’s Boston. “Food brings us all together and can be the best part of everyone's day.”

For the past six years, Bob and six team members have worked together to provide a smooth meal service seven days a week. Long before guests arrive at the Blossom Café, careful planning is already underway. The process begins with the consideration of inventory and ordering. “All food items then must be prepared so that wait times are minimal, and there is enough to complete service,” said Bob.

Each guest who enters the dining area is greeted by name and with a smile, helping create a positive experience. “If you have a favorite place to go and they remember your name and acknowledge you, it is an uplifting and positive experience,” said Bob, who explained that many children and their caregivers visit the Blossom Café daily during their stay at Shriners Children’s Boston. “For patients and families, those interactions become an important part of their routine because the cafeteria is the best part of their day.”

That sense of familiarity and personalized care extends beyond everyday encounters. The Blossom Café staff offer a personal touch for patients who are away from their communities and daily routines through special “patient plates.” These customized meals are created to bring children an extra bit of comfort. “Patient plates give the feeling of being back home and also provide the opportunity for the child to share their culture with everyone,” Bob said.

Patient plates are a collaborative effort with the clinical nutrition team at Shriners Children’s Boston. They are designed to meet children's dietary needs while honoring cultural preferences and offering fun, appealing choices for those dining at the Blossom Café.

Jenny Shiel, MS, RD, LDN, and Janelle McCormick, MS, RDN, LDN, work with patients to select foods they enjoy while supporting calorie and protein dietary goals. “For these children, the program can be exciting and motivating,” said Jenny. “Children come up with a meal they have been missing from home or are hoping to enjoy. It’s a big deal to have their name and meal on the menu for the day.”

Created primarily for pediatric burn patients experiencing extended hospital stays, patient plates support children as they begin advancing oral intake, an important milestone in recovery. “We closely monitor and conduct consistent check-ins with families regarding nutrition,” Janelle said. “We often follow up with the Blossom Café team after meeting with families to pass along any patient preferences or needs so that they can be addressed at the next meal.”

For other patients, Jenny and Janelle work to accommodate individual food preferences and allergies, ensuring suitable alternatives are available. “We make sure diet orders and patients' charts reflect specific restrictions. We also work with nursing staff to monitor patient progress and needs,” Jenny said. “Even when children are doing well, we still touch base with the diet aides to make sure needs continue to be met and address any questions that may come up.”

That ongoing attention allows the Blossom Café team to get to know patients throughout their healing journey at Shriners Children’s Boston. “It is amazing for all of us in the cafeteria to witness the transformation of our patients over time,” said Bob, who added that the team takes great pride in celebrating major milestones, such as patient graduations. “It is very gratifying to see these children who come to our hospital for care progress to the next phase of recovery.”