September Meal of the Month

Have you ever seen a recipe online and thought, wow, that looks good? We all have. This month, we're bringing that feeling to your dining location with Five Star's September Meal of the Month. Not every dining location may offer the September Meal of the Month. Menu offerings are determined by each dining team, so be sure to check with your local café to see if it's available.

And before you put on your Gordon Ramsay hat to stop by and experience Chef Mike's creation firsthand. We sat down with him to learn more about the inspiration behind this month's meal.

What is the Meal of the Month for September and what inspired this month's recipe?
Smokey Smothered Fried Pork Chops w/ Mashed Potatoes & Honey Dijion Carrots Inspired by Fellow cooks that made a big impact on how I cook.

Smothered Pork Chop:
Is inspired by my first sous chef and a proud son of Indiana where they love their gigantic fried pork sandwiches.

Roasted Carrots:
Come from my grandmother who would roast carrots with her lamb. My first kitchen prep job was cleaning carrots for her.

Mashed Potatoes:
Chef Louis Osteen, a master at mashed potatoes. The key to fluffy mashed potatoes: butter them first, let it melt and then add your other seasoning/liquids. No wallpaper paste potatoes, please.

More Than a Great Meal
During Hunger Action Month, we're reminded that some of the best meals come from simple, approachable ingredients. While this dish may look like something you'd only enjoy at a restaurant, it highlights ingredients that many families can find at their local grocery store:

Potatoes: 5 lb bag for approximately $3.00 to $3.50
Carrots: $2.62 for a 1 to 2 lb bag
Pork chops: Typically between $2.50 and $7.50 per pound

But before you think about recreating it at home, make sure to stop by and try Chef Mike's version. After all, every great recipe deserves a taste test from the expert first.

What makes this meal a great choice for busy employees?

It's comfort food but you're getting some great nutrition. Potatoes are a great source of potassium, vitamin C, and are naturally fat-free. Carrots are low on the glycemic index for blood sugar control and packed with beta-carotene.

What flavors can people expect? Smokey & savory, from the smothered sauce. Sweetness and bitterness from the carrots.

What’s your favorite part of the dish? Bacon! The answer is always bacon.

 September is Hunger Action Month. Why do you think food access is such an important conversation?
It is important because our bodies are what we eat. Our bodies need proper nutrition for them to help fight off disease, and for all its systems to run properly. There are a lot of mental stressors effecting the body for those who deal with food insecurity.

How has your experience working with food shaped your perspective on hunger and nutrition? The only relief from hunger is to be fed.

Working in a kitchen in food service, you usually have the perk of not going hungry for lack of food. Many people don't have that advantage. Most folks have an experience or memory that is associated with food in some way. As a cook, I always want the experience to be a positive one. The meals we enjoy should feed our bodies but should also be an opportunity to relax and take a break.

Chef Mike's story is a reminder that every meal has the potential to make an impact. Whether it's providing the nutrition needed to power through the day or offering a welcome break from work, food serves an important purpose. Through our dining programs, we're committed to creating positive experiences around food and making every meal a moment worth enjoying.