 | |
|
| |
| Tim Mulderink | |
BlueCross BlueShield's executive chef Tim Mulderink runs a kitchen that serves about half of the insurer's roughly 5,000 employees every day, and he's never bought a stick of butter to do it.
"Chef Tim," as he is known around the kitchens of BlueCross BlueShield's new Cameron Hill headquarters, supervises a staff of 30 employees who each work day churn out loads of healthy food options, including egg white omelets, turkey burgers and lots of vegetables.
He's even convinced a few employees to try out foods that are new to them, including tofu and turkey sausage.
Sample fare
Some of the food served at the BlueCross BlueShield cafeteria:
Turkey burgers
Lemon sage chicken
Ham and cheese pizza with whole wheat crust
Turkey pot pie
Tilapia with herbs
Turnip greens
Navy beans
Squash
Zucchini
Personal glance
* Name: Tim Mulderink
* Position: Executive chef at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
* Age: 54
* Education: Culinary Institute of America, New York; Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago; American Culinary Federation
* Personal: He and his wife, Louise, have been married 30 years and have two children, Jolene, 28, and son T.J., 27.
"It's a cultural shift, that is what's going on," Mr. Mulderink said. "A lot of times we think it is going to take a long time (to change people's minds), but we have to make an impact now, and I think it's working."
As he looks over the gleaming new mixers, baking racks and countertops in the kitchen, it's clear this job is what Mr. Mulderink has been working for his entire career. It's easy to look back now, over 36 years in the food service industry, at how every job he had led him here.
"This is heaven," he said.
Mr. Mulderink, 54, joined Sodexo Magic, the company contracted to run the BCBS's dining hall, in December 2008 and was asked to make the food served there to fit in with the insurer's culture of wellness.
To fulfill that mandate, the head chef is forced on a daily basis with such challenges as locating large amounts of whole wheat pasta or perfecting a whole wheat biscuit.
"It's been a challenge for all of us and Tim has done everything we could expect," said Neal Seigler, resident district manager for Sodexo Magic. "This is an extension of what (BCBS) wants, and Tim is at the front line doing it."
Mr. Mulderink has been working as a chef for 36 years. He started cooking for his large family -- four brothers and sisters -- as a boy growing up in Chicago and entered chef school immediately after graduating from high school.
"Julia Child was my favorite," he said.
He is certified as an executive chef through the American Culinary Federation and is a member of the American Academy of Chefs, an honor society.
He trained at a cooking school in Chicago and also the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Over the years, he owned a restaurant called Sherman's House in Chicago.
Shortly after buying the restaurant, Mr. Mulderink's wife of 30 years, Louise, gave birth to their daughter Jolene, now 28. Soon after, son T.J. was born and the dream of running a restaurant was traded for something more conducive to raising a family -- the world of corporate food service.
Staff Photo by Angela Lewis Tim Mulderink checks on the breakfast bar at BlueCross BlueShield on Friday.
But these days Mr. Mulderink enjoys spending time making the perfect whole wheat biscuit to go with the turkey gravy and egg white omelets on the breakfast menu at Blue Cross.
"It's surprising after they taste it, they say oh, that wasn't so bad,'" he said.
Text Size:
Instead of a puff-piece, how about some investigative articles on the stranglehold these people have on our health care and the corruption involving the city handing over to them prime real estate to build their new lair.
BCBS is the enemy of freedom and wellness. The overall work force is fat, out of shape, unsympathetic, and indulgent.
Do some real reporting instead of just parroting their own press releases and serving their agenda.
Why are you reading the articles if you don't like what the reporters are reporting? Also, I believe majority of all companies offer the no-insurance option so you do not have to opt to have insurance if it is with BCBS and you don't like the fact that they are one of Tennessee's leading insurance companies and in my personal opinion I feel they have earned that title more than fairly they provide the utmost benefits to their members. If people have a major problem with the benefits that they are provided then they need to consult with their employers who opt for lower-costing plans for their company and the people you can think for that are people who abuse insurance and it does happen. So I would like you to explain how BCBS is the enemy of freedom when you probably have the option of not having insurance with them. BCBS also is trying to create a model society through their employees teaching better nutrition, offering a free on-site gym also reimbursement for their employees who do pay for an outside gym membership, also they offer health coaching for their employees, however, like with society in general the company can not FORCE their employees to live a healthy lifestyle and be in shape. If they could then why can't society however let me go ahead and point a few things out that maybe the government should do with the whole society in your opinion. BCBS has vending machines that charge more for unhealthy options so naturally to save money people are going to pay less and get a bottled water instead of a soda. Can you please inform the government that in your opinion that they should do that and force all people who are overweight to get in shape and lose weight??
Are BCBS employees unsympathetic because they perform their jobs based on the guidelines chosen by your employers?? I think that is a complaint people need to get with their employers on.
So before you go putting down a company maybe you need to learn your facts just because BCBS is large company doesn't mean they are over indulgent nor is the new campus a "lair" that was the main focus in the building process was making sure it wasn't considered a mansion on the hill. It is actually a very economically built campus.
I don't work for Blue Cross or any other insurance company, nor do I have health insurance (my choice for now). Yet, I will defend the right of any company to run their business as they see fit and to employ people in our community. If I believe a company is unethical or unions are full of thugs then I have a choice not to work for/with them or buy their product. And thank the Lord, I do exercise my choices.
Now, the article is a nice piece about a respectable American Chef who has done well in his career and provided nicely for his family. His efforts are to be commended and I bet his culinary skills are much appreciated. We need more human beings around like Chef Mulderink. Bon appetit!
the above comment is great. thank you.
I'm so proud of you big brother!!! Ignore the nasty comments. They don't know what they're talking about. Because of all of the Obama Health Care in the news, they can't see past their nose that the article wasn't about BCBS but rather YOU and Sodexo Magic!! For any of you that can't see past your nose, Sodexo Magic is the company contracted by BCBS and my brother is an amazing person!!! Love you Tim!!!