When Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian moved to Tampa a few years ago, he didnt expect a conversation about chicken noodle soup to spark a full-scale overhaul of hospital food.

I had a situation at a meeting with John Couris, Tampa Generals CEO, Zakarian said. Someone said you should get to know him. Hes a great guy, loves food. We were chatting in his office. Its a true story. And he said, I hope you can help me with the chicken noodle soup here. They put the noodles in so early, and its all mushy.

Zakarian, a longtime Food Network personality and full-time Tampa resident, said he could fix it. Couris encouraged him to submit a proposal.

I told him I want to do a menu of real food. All the stuff that youre serving now is gonna go in the garbage, Zakarian said. He goes, Fine with me.

That wa

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