A stay in the hospital can be a harrowing experience, to say the least. Constant patient checks, rooms filled with monitoring equipment creating their own breed of aggravating noise, and of course the bland, boring, tasteless food is simply part of the arrangement. Not much can be done about the poking, prodding and general noise but when it comes to the menu, a paradigm shift has occurred and it’s right here in Kingstree.

Under the guise of Williamsburg Regional Hospital dietary staff, a group of “medics of mediocre meals” have quietly been utilizing their culinary talents to transform customary hospital provisions into delectable and deceitfully rich tasting dishes.  Director of Food and Nutrition Services Betty Gordon coordinates the daily operations. Gordon has been with Williamsburg Regional Hospital 43 years and her experiences have added a flare of flavorful freshness to the menu by replacing fat and butter with herbs and spices.

Some of the most popular dishes that patrons enjoy are turkey and dressing and fried chicken, both of which have a pinch of this and a shake of that to enhance the esculent experience. But don’t expect these constables of cuisine to reveal their secrets to the succulent chow. Thirty year veteran cook Frankie Barr did go as far as to say they use a common seasoning mixture but was careful to add that it contained no MSG, a flavor enhancer that has controversial roots. 

Tim Fulton is also a cook who takes pride in his prowess of palate persuasion. One of his specialties that keep the hungry crowds coming is peppers stuffed with a flawless fusion of ground beef and cheese. The peppers, along with the turkey and the fried chicken, are just a portion of the various rotating menu.

The cafeteria serves breakfast as well as lunch (including a salad bar), seven days a week. They also prepare dinner, but unfortunately that is reserved for the patients. But at least those who are fortunate to embark on the delectable daylight feast will rest assured this hospital food will delivered with a healthy dose of happiness that is guaranteed to heal your gastronomical cravings.