Chef Ira Poritzky at Feather River Hospital wanted to wow staff and guests who visited the café. So, after much time and research, he came up with recipes to help his patrons travel around the world—through their palettes, anyway. Throughout 2006 and 2007, diners "flew" their taste buds to such exotic places as Ethiopia, Transylvania and Argentina. After circling the globe and enjoying tastes from more than 30 countries, Poritzky is taking his patrons on a road trip across the U.S.

Patients at Ukiah hospital treated to room service

At Ukiah Valley Medical Center, patients are treated like royalty, at least when it comes to food. With a vast menu and a capable staff, UVMC offers room service-style meals. This means patients can order anything from the menu—day or night—and have it delivered to their room within 45 minutes. And not only are the meals made fresh, they are catered specifically to each patient's dietary needs.