As medical physicists in Radiation Oncology at Appleton Medical Center, Greg Saulnier, Ph.D., DABR, and Stan Reed help treat cancer patients. That attitude of service extends into the larger community through their participation in the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Men Who Cook fundraiser, held every June for the past 13 years.
“Cooking is really a chemistry experiment for us,” Reed quipped.
For the past four years, Saulnier and Reed have joined nearly 60 other men, both professional chefs and “masters of their home grill,” in creating a memorable evening for patrons of the annual fundraiser. Saulnier and Reed estimate they’ve served about 150-200 people per year.
“We prefer to prepare food people may not commonly have,” explained Saulnier.
“We’ve made various sushi rolls with mango wasabi, seafood cakes with a peach salsa, which are like crab cakes but with four types of seafood, and a feta, broccoli and spinach quiche with a chipotle dipping sauce,” said Saulnier. “We’ve provided a vegetarian option which has been appreciated.”
“We have yet to have any food left,” Reed added with pride.
A lot of preparation goes into feeding hundreds of people. Banquets are vastly different than normal home preparation. Large quantities of small portions are the standard, and meals are prepared at the University of Oshkosh kitchen.
“I’m proficient in the planning,” Reed said. “And Greg excels at tasting.”
Saulnier and Reed submit a recipe several months before the event. Cooks can make anything they’d like, and “We try to offer something no one else will make,” They said. They select items not too complicated for their skill level and do a trial run several weeks prior to the event to ensure the dish works.
“The trial run has saved us, as we once had a poor result that required some significant method changes,” said Reed.
Both men are committed to what they do for the organization and believe it provides an important service in the community.
“Our one day contribution is minor compared to others who participate year-round,” Reed said. “I believe the emphasis should be the good the organization is doing and getting people to get involved.”
