Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Nourish

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, an annual celebration recognizing the contributions that these individuals have made to the United States.

Monument Health is proud to employ a diverse group of caregivers, including many Asian American and Pacific Islanders. This includes the food and nutrition services department.

“We are extremely blessed in our department to have a large representation from the Philippines,” said Chef Scott Brinker, Chef of Food and Nutrition at Rapid City Hospital. In honor of their heritage and culinary background, he wanted caregivers Chef Richard “Red” Agbada and Chef Jensen Hernandez to showcase authentic Filipino cuisine at Nourish, Rapid City Hospital’s full-service cafeteria.

Chef Red and Chef Jensen were honored to share the food that they grew up with in the Philippines, as many people haven’t experienced Filipino food before. “I’ve talking to a lot of people, and they haven’t tried some of the food I’m cooking. For example, pork belly with the skin on it. They didn’t know we can eat the skin on pork,” said Chef Jensen.

Though they are both experts in Filipino food, both chefs have also travelled the world to work in various restaurants. Red worked on cruise ships as well as in Dubai, Singapore and Finland, while Jensen worked in Dubai and Seattle.

Like many of Monument Health’s caregivers, the reason they come to Rapid City is for a great job opportunity. This is the same story for Red and Jensen as both chefs’ significant others are nurses. “I told my wife, it’s time for you to make your dreams come true. So, I supported her,” said Chef Red.