CHEF TAMMY LAROCHE CHEFS OF THE KAWARTHAS

CHEF TAMMY LAROCHE CHEFS OF THE KAWARTHAS

By Karen Irvine

What got Tammy to start cooking? Life . ‘I started cooking at 5 when mom helped me bake my first cake. My sister was sick for years and years and I had to cook meals for my family when I was nine years old. I ended up being the cook because my brother didn’t, and my dad worked 3 jobs. I’ve always loved food, my family has always been centered around food.’ Her first real job was cooking at 15. Tammy worked for the two previous owners of The Parkway Banquet Hall, and took it over in 2005. She hired an amazing cook, Alec Miliaris, and learned many of her skills from him over the years he was with her. When he retired, she found no one could do it the way he did except her, so she took over the cooking and hired soux chefs to help out. ‘I loved the Parkway. It was the best of both worlds. I’m a people person and a foodie, so what better way to do it than to help people celebrate their weddings and anniversaries.’ The Parkway was well known for the sweets that they baked. Everything was from scratch. That has carried forward to her job at Kawartha T ammy Laroche is well k nown in Peterborough. As the owner of the now closed Parkway Banquet Hall, I’m sure you have all, at one time, tasted her delicious dinners and sweet deserts. Nowadays, Tammy is serving much more important people - the seniors at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living - and is loving it.

Heights Retirement Living, having started there in March 2018. Everything is done in house, and the deserts are all from scratch. That is part of why Tammy loves working there. But the main reason is the residents. ‘They are phenomenal, Tammy with one of the residents in the Dining Room actually.

They were very grateful to have me come here. These are people who cooked every meal themselves. They didn’t do fancy meals. They just want good meat and potatoes. Every once in awhile they like it when we go off kilter a little bit and experiment. If they ask what’s in it, I tell them to trust me. I know what they like,’ she laughs. The menu is usually about a four week rotation. A mission that Tammy has undertaken is to keep healthy choices on the menu. She works closely with the residents to ensure they get the best nutrition. The only complaint Tammy receives from the residents is that they are gaining weight because the food is too good.

One of the residents, Jean, has (jokingly) threatened to throat punch Tammy. She even has her own paddle and her nickname is Mean Jean. I had the chance to meet Jean during dinner hour. I have to say, she is spunky and sweet all in a little bundle of Scottish accent. I can see why Tammy loves her residents. And again, it’s the best of both worlds. She gets to do what she loves best - socialize and cook.

I can tell you from experience, having tasted Tammy’s meals, I would be very happy at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living knowing that she is in charge of the food program.