The chef responsible for cooking at a hospice has revealed what most patients request him to prepare.
At Oxfordshire’s Sobell House Hospice, Spencer Richards is the creative force ensuring that their final meals are perfect, delicious, and filled with love.
The British chef takes great pride in his role, saying: “In my view, there is no greater honor for a chef than to serve someone their last meal.”
He noted that a 21-year-old patient recently showed a dislike for everything on the menu, so he made it a point to bring him some street food after learning that it was his favorite.
It is Spencer’s duty to ensure that patients receive the exact dishes they wish for in their final days, whether it’s a delightful crème brûlée or a birthday cake for someone who has never had one.
Spencer recalled that she was both ‘in tears’ and ‘over the moon’ while baking a birthday cake for a ninety-three-year-old woman who had never experienced one before.
The chef pointed out that birthday cakes are the most requested items from patients, especially those in later-life care, for these reasons.
He emphasized, “They’re small things, but especially for individuals who’ve been isolated or are feeling lonely, they hold significant meaning.”
Spencer mentioned that ‘adapting’ is just as important as cooking when it comes to food at the end of life due to health issues, stating, “Patients often lose the ability to swallow or their taste buds change because of medications and treatments like chemotherapy.”
The chef noted that ‘people with cancer often crave sweets’ and that many hospice patients have a sensitivity to salt, so they adjust accordingly.
With his menu, he serves patients from various backgrounds, crafting French delicacies such as panna cotta and crème caramel.
But what happens if individuals cannot eat solid food?
Well, Spencer prepares dishes just as skillfully when it comes to jelly or ice cream, mentioning, “We don’t always know at the moment what it signifies.”
“However, we receive feedback later – families return months down the line, just to express their gratitude.”
On Christmas Day, a family who had experienced the loss of a loved one in 2024 returned with their own food to show their appreciation to the hospice staff. Spencer mentioned that this act reminded him of his purpose and the reason behind his work.
Emphasizing that his current goal is to ‘give back’, the chef shared, “Food is a deeply emotional medium – it can evoke childhood memories and forge new lasting ones. That’s our mission here.”
The NHS and the Sobell House Hospice Charity, which raises approximately £4 million each year, collaboratively support Sobell House.
We would love for you to SHARE this story with your Family and Friends! Also, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
