Story and Photo by Jeremiah Kalb
When you think of “Madisonhealth,” what sorts of images pop into your mind? Is it the life-saving measures available in the ER? Maybe the state-of-the-art imaging technology for head-to-toe? Possibly the welcoming of new life at the Family Maternity Center? Most definitely, the compassionate care. Madisonhealth covers it all when it comes to health care.
And yet here in the heart of Upper Snake River Valley, at Madison Memorial Hospital, in Rexburg, Idaho, we find a 4.6 star Google rating for “delicious eats” at the Paragon Café. One patron proclaims online, “This is dang good food!” Out of a hospital cafeteria? Really? Yes!
I had the opportunity to catch up with Heather Metcalf, the mastermind behind the daily specials. Formerly a full-service copy center manager, she’s been creating popular dishes like her Brisket, Cilantro Lime Ranch Steak Salad, Beef and Cheese Crunch Wrap, and many other mouth-watering dishes the past three years after starting out on the cash register, salad bar, and grill.
“Some days, I can’t believe I’m here doing this.” At first, she was a bit shocked to be offered the job because she had never worked at any food-related job. “I thought, let’s just do this. You either fail, or you don’t. Or you fail, and you learn how to do it right.”
She weighed the risk and staked her claim on an unfulfilled dream.
Heather is a self-made success story teaching herself from books and online platforms. She learned to cook the 80-plus customer daily specials through experimentation and picking up some tips here and there from cookbooks and watching cooking shows.
Her sparse on-the-job training has made her more creative, making her the chef she is today. “In the beginning, I felt I needed guidance, but now I know what to do. I can figure it out. I like the creativity. I don’t need a book to tell me, hey, you need to do it this way or that way.”
Before whipping up her signature dishes in the Paragon, she devoted thirteen years to the family’s copy shop business before she decided it was finally time to do what she watched her brothers do – go live their dreams.
For as long as Heather can remember, she wanted to don a chef coat. “Watching and learning how people cook has always intrigued me.” This intrigue catapulted the calm dynamo into experiencing her ultimate joy.
“Knowing I can make a difference in someone’s day by serving them a delicious meal makes me happy.” Heather knows food is a great way to comfort someone having a bad day.
One complicating factor could have stopped Heather from pursuing her passion. Family.
“Cutting ties from the family business was tough because my dad did not want me to leave.” Heather found it challenging to see her dad cope with her not being behind the counter serving customers, but life became delightfully less stressful.
Being in a family business comes with plenty of challenges, and Heather’s experience was no exception. “I loved the job, don’t get me wrong, but having that family break up, I now have a relationship with my family,” she smiles. “I love it.”
The pace and intensity of Heather’s workday will scramble most people’s brains. If not, the others will surely lose their minds when they realize the chicken for today’s special is still on the road in some delivery truck, and it’s about time to start serving hard-working healthcare heroes.
Heather is allotted four hours to prep a special. This late delivery cost Heather about 1.5 hours, bringing the special to hungry mouths later than usual. If it is not a late delivery, which has only happened this one time, there is always something keeping Heather on her toes.
“You see all the magic on TV, but it’s all clipped for our viewing pleasure. Most people don’t realize that they dumped all their batter on the floor somewhere in the middle and had to start over.”
Heather lives daily for these challenges and does not see herself stopping to rest on her laurels. “This is my calling in life,” she says.