Chef Jose Garces Celebrates Superfoods in the Virtua Health Video Series

MARLTON – Iron Chef and James Beard Award winner Jose Garces has launched a new series of short videos highlighting the nutritional benefits and preparation possibilities of four superfoods. Created by Virtua Health, the largest health system in southern New Jersey, the bites can be found on Chef Garces’ social media channels, including YouTube and Instagram, at start on October 24.

“Many people want to eat healthy food but need guidance on what to choose and how to cook it,” Garces said. “Through these videos, we offer simple recipes that bring out the flavors of some of my favorite ingredients, like avocados and potatoes.”

Joining Garces in each video is Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, Dr.PH, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Dr. Mozaffarian explains the nutritional qualities of each of the foods described.

Both Garces and Mozaffarian are members of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The state advisory committee aims to promote healthy eating and exercise for all people, regardless of background or ability.

Off the court, Garces has shown a commitment to education and opportunity. He founded the Garces Foundation in 2011, which provides programs that support the immigrant community in Greater Philadelphia. Highlights include staff training, health fairs, and English classes designed for restaurant workers.

Like the Garces Foundation, Virtua Health is a leader in helping people embrace health and wellness. The nonprofit health system is well known for its extensive community programs designed to reduce health disparities. Another notable example is the story of the Virtua Eat Well Mobile Grocery, which Garces visited to find ingredients for his delicious food videos.

Launched in 2020, the 40-meter-long Mobile Grocery offers fresh produce, proteins, canned goods, household items and other common items at prices much lower than traditional supermarkets. Supported by a series of philanthropic supporters, this grocery store on wheels makes weekly stops in Camden and Burlington counties, visiting neighborhoods that lack readily available options (sometimes called “food deserts”). .

“I learned that Virtua Health is much more than hospitals and doctors’ offices,” Garces said. “Virtua works to address the root causes of health conditions, and often that can be access to food and exposure to nutrition education. Working together on these videos helps us recognize that when we eat well, we feel better.”

“I had the good fortune to know Chef Garces and see firsthand how committed he is to developing a healthy community,” said Virtua President and CEO Dennis Pullin, FACHE, who interviewed the chef at his podcast, “Here. for Good,” is now available. When an opportunity arises to help others, you can count on Jose to do his part.

Virtua Health will present Chef Garces with the Distinguished Service Award at its annual fundraising event on November 2 in Atlantic City, NJ.

About Chef Jose Garces

Iron Chef, father, husband, James Beard Award winner, entrepreneur, and food designer, Chef Jose Garces is recognized as a leading figure in Spanish and Latin-American cuisine.

From Spanish tapas at Amada, his first restaurant, to award-winning burgers and whiskey flights at Village Whiskey, Chef Garces is constantly pushing the boundaries of culinary excellence.

While maintaining his successful full-service restaurant business, Chef Garces is also looking to the future, with a strong focus on bringing a quality restaurant experience to enthusiasts’ homes and businesses. cooking in new and exciting ways. From updated home cooking options and online cooking demos, to live online cooking classes, Chef Garces is excited to connect with fans of his work on television, as well as the home cook of would like to have a “cooking life” in their life. his kitchen.

As a child of immigrants and a leader in the diverse hospitality industry, the well-being of his Philadelphia community has always been dear to Chef Garces’ heart. To help provide ongoing and effective assistance to the immigrant community, Chef Garces founded The Garces Foundation in 2011. The Garces Foundation provides services, including community health days, skills classes The English language has led to the restaurant industry, and recently, it has increased. focus on buying and distributing food to people in need.

Chef Garces is the author of two cookbooks, Latin Evolution and The Latin Road Home, published by Lake Isle Press. In 2023, he was appointed to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.

About Virtua Health

Marlton, NJ-based Virtua Health is an academic health system dedicated to helping the people of South Jersey get healthy, well, and stay healthy by providing a full range of health care services. advanced, accessible, and trusted beauty. Virtua’s 14,000 associates provide tertiary care, including renowned cardiac and transplant programs, complemented by a community care center. In addition to five hospitals, two satellite emergency departments, 41 ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 400 other locations, Virtua brings health services directly to communities through Home Hospital, the treatment of body and development, mobile imaging, and its medical program.

Courtesy of Virtua Health