Bon appétit — from Rikers Island.
Lefty Higher West Facet Councilwoman Gale Brewer is pushing the town to feed jailbirds “farm-to-table” meals, like ones served up at a number of the Huge Apple’s prime Michelin-starred eating places.
Brewer informed metropolis Division of Correction honchos throughout a funds listening to Friday the meals menu provided on Rikers is so unhealthy it makes her sick to her abdomen.
“I’ve been to Rikers many instances,” the Manhattan Democrat mentioned.
“I do discover the meals — despite the fact that I do know you’re making some enhancements – to be very difficult.”
And he or she was virtually dyspeptic when officers tried to clarify that detainees and workers are already provided “plant-based meals.”
“I don’t need plant-based! I would like recent vegetables and fruit!” she roared.
“I would like native produce and native meat for individuals in custody.”
The DOC’s annual meals funds is $18.8 million, and about 27,000 meals are ready day by day at two totally different kitchens on Rikers, based on officers.
A typical dinner at the moment served within the jail embody pepper steak, yellow rice, inexperienced beans; whereas lunch may embody a roasted hen leg with gravy, yellow rice, and steamed greens; and a breakfast may embody Multigrain Cheerios, based on the DOC.
Seasonal fruit, bread and a beverage are additionally provided with every meal, and menus change day by day.
Town spends $1,525 day by day to deal with detainees, in accordance a 2021 report by then-NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer.
DOC officers couldn’t instantly present Brewer an estimate of how a lot on common it spends per meal.
Nevertheless, it’s probably a far cry from the $145 plus tax and tip foodies shell out per dinner on the farm-to-table, Michelin-starred Blue Hill restaurant in Greenwich Village.
A current dinner menu there included pheasant stew served with a murasaki candy potato and a parsnip raviolo, topped off for dessert with pickled blueberry, hazelnut, white chocolate and beer ice cream.
DOC officers mentioned they assist the idea of offering more healthy “farm-to-table” meals to detainees – one thing Brewer mentioned the state lately started offering at its upstate jails – but it surely’s just too expensive.
“It’s my intent for our menu to be revisited, … and such as you I do consider within the farm-to-table idea,” mentioned James Saunders, DOC’s deputy commissioner of well being affairs.
“You and I additionally understand how costly it’s and the way as a metropolis authorities we have to keep inside funds.”
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Brooklyn) almost barfed when she heard Brewer’s suggestion.
“I want our veterans had been fed farm-to-table meals,” she mentioned.
“I believe the man who set the girl on hearth on the subway is at Rikers proper now,” added Paladino, referring to Guatemalan nationwide Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, the unlawful migrant who allegedly carried out the deadly arson assault in December on an F prepare in Coney Island.
“We’re going to fear about farm-to-table meals and ensuring they get fed? That is ridiculous.”
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