Festive feed for Wairarapa patients

Wairarapa Hospital, Te Ore Ore Road, Masterton.

The classic Kiwi roast and pav is on the menu for people who have the misfortune of being in Wairarapa Hospital this Christmas.

The hospital's midday Christmas dinner offerings are roast leg of lamb and gravy with mint sauce, or roast chicken and gravy with cranberry sauce, served with roast potatoes, minted peas and honey glazed carrots.

There is a vegetarian option - roast vegetables with hollandaise sauce.

For dessert, patients can choose from pavlova, fruit and cream or Christmas pudding and custard.

There's a light evening meal of ham salad, cheese salad or club sandwiches, or scrambled eggs, followed by fresh fruit salad, jelly and ice cream.

All of this is served with a Christmas cracker and Christmas cake.

Hospitals around the country offer similar fare although patients staying at Palmerston North and Wanganui hospitals get a slightly more luxurious evening meal.

Patients have the choice of roast lamb and roast chicken with homemade stuffing and gravy served with roasted vegetables, baby carrots and peas.

Vegetarians will be able to order a vegetarian filo roll served with roasted vegetables, baby carrots and peas.

For dessert, choices include steamed plum pudding with brandy sauce, pavlova and berry sauce or sugar-free jelly and fruit.

For their evening dinner, patients can order roasted pumpkin soup as a starter, followed by three main courses which include glazed ham served with steamed gourmet potatoes and salad, a roast turkey and cranberry sandwich or roasted vegetable and feta salad.

Double chocolate mousse, stewed fruit, or jelly and ice cream are the dessert options.

To end the day, patients will be treated to supper with cheese and crackers, or berry yoghurt, or fruit and nut mix. All meals are served on festive tray mats.

Rotorua and Taupo hospitals are dishing up ham or roast turkey with roast potatoes and vegetables as well as evening meals of roast beef or smoked fish pie.

Dessert options are trifle, jelly and ice cream, stewed fruit, Christmas pudding with custard and mince pies.