Tampa General Hospital Brings World-Class Dining to Patients through Partnership with Celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian

"Through our partnership with Chef Zakarian, we are demonstrating the role that nutrition plays in the healing process and transforming our menu and delivery model to better meet the needs of our patients," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. "Nutrients from high-quality, wholesome food can support and expedite recovery. By treating food as medicine, we're setting our patients up for the best possible patient outcomes and long-term success after they leave the hospital."

The new menu, designed by Chef Zakarian, features items such as grilled Gulf snapper, bistro hanger steak and an herbed falafel pita. The menu, which is available to patients at Tampa General's main campus on Davis Islands starting in October, focuses on anti-inflammatory foods rich in key vitamins and nutrients, resembling a traditional Mediterranean diet.

"Through my years of experience in the food service industry, I've seen the role that nutritious food plays in our overall well-being," said Chef Zakarian. "I'm excited to lend my culinary expertise to improve the health and wellness of patients at Tampa General Hospital while elevating the patient experience during their stay at the hospital."

Chef Zakarian developed the seasonal menus with a farm-to-table approach, aiming to utilize the region's fresh produce whenever available. Locally grown fruits and vegetables offer maximum nutrient density. The close proximity reduces transportation, which improves freshness, sustainability and affordability.

The menu is based on the concept that "food is medicine," an approach that acknowledges food plays a crucial role in maintaining health. Menu items that are high in nutrition can help prevent, manage and treat illness. Tampa General's physicians, nurses and dietitians provided input to align the menu offerings with patient treatment plans for maximum health benefits.

"This partnership will not only lead to a better patient experience, but also better patient outcomes," said Dr. Tanuja Sharma, a board-certified family medicine physician at Tampa General Hospital. "Fresh and healthy foods are an important component of a patient's healing process. Good nutrition can also address chronic conditions, prevent illness and contribute to a better quality of life."

This culinary rewrite isn't just a transformation in menu, but a transformation in delivery model, too. Currently, many hospitals across the United States deliver a set menu to patients at scheduled time periods throughout the day. As part of the menu overturn, the health system is implementing a room-service style food delivery system.

The Patient Room Service program, currently available to some patients and to be implemented hospital-wide by the end of the summer, enables patients to choose what and when they want to eat, providing them with greater flexibility and control over their meals. Patients can place an order from the revolving menu through their in-room TV or phone call to the diet team at their time of choice. Meals will be made to order and delivered within 45 minutes.

The increased flexibility means that patients undergoing testing or exams will not risk missing a meal during routine deliveries. Instead, they can place a custom order for delivery when the timing is right or hunger strikes.

Combined, the new menu and delivery model aim to increase operational efficiencies, enabling Tampa General to enhance the patient experience with minimal financial impact.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,529-bed, not-for-profit academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the Tampa Bay region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. The system's hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital, Tampa General Behavioral Health Hospital, all in Tampa; Tampa General Brooksville, Tampa General Spring Hill and Tampa General Crystal River. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay in U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best Hospitals, with six medical specialties ranking among the top 50 in the nation and five additional medical specialties ranked among the top 10% best hospital programs in the United States. As the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness, Tampa General has elevated its digital care coordination center to the next level by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care to ensure patients receive leading-edge care as quickly and safely as possible. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings — in the 2025 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women.

Tampa General is the safety-net hospital for the region, caring for anyone regardless of ability to pay; in fiscal year 2023, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $301.8 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It was the nation's No. 1 adult solid organ transplant center in 2024 and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care their conditions require. Tampa General is home to a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General's footprint includes TGH North, which consists of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties; 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices; TGH Family Care Center Kennedy; two TGH outpatient centers; TGH Virtual Health; and 19 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care, powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN
Geoffrey Zakarian is recognized by culinary industry insiders as a superstar chef in the restaurant world, and by food enthusiasts as an 'Iron Chef,' author, fashion icon, and trusted television presence. Highlights from his prolific Food Network television career include Iron Chef America, Big Restaurant Bet, Chopped and Emmy-nominated The Kitchen. With a wide range of gourmet foods and innovative culinary tools and cookware, Chef Zakarian is passionate about sharing his knowledge and helping home cooks easily elevate their meals. A dedicated advocate in the fight against hunger, Zakarian has served for 15 years as Chair of the Food Council for City Harvest, helping rescue and distribute fresh food to communities in need across New York City. As Culinary Director at Tampa General Hospital, Zakarian brings his signature approach to wellness-focused, seasonal cuisine to the healthcare setting. With a career dedicated to inspiring, teaching, and sharing the art of cooking and living well, Chef Zakarian continues to engage and influence a global audience, including over 3 million highly engaged followers on social media.

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital