Transylvania Regional Hospital names new director of food and nutrition services

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James Hargis, the new director of food and nutrition services at Transylvania Regional Hospital (TRH), is a certified dietary manager, certified food protection professional and certified executive chef. He previously oversaw operations at a properties resort in Cashiers and worked as an executive chef in an upscale retirement community in south Florida and various restaurants in Chicago, Atlanta and San Diego.

Hargis holds a culinary degree and has trained in Europe at multiple Michelin Star restaurants. He also worked closely with Chef Jean Banchet at Le Francais.

At TRH, Hargis will be responsible for overseeing patient meals, catering and managing staff and visitor dining at the hospital’s café. He has also created a new menu cycle for patients, which is based around from-scratch cooking, according to The Transylvania Times.

Hargis and the other foodservice staff members have created a program called “Dinner-to-Go” for hospital employees and local community. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, meals can be placed for pick up before 1 p.m. and can be picked up between 5 and 6 p.m. that day. Dinners are prepared in two-person increments, costing $5 per person and $4.50 for hospital employees. All meals also include a side salad and dinner roll. The department’s current goal is to expand this program to five days a week.