Jammy Buggars Restaurant and Pub to Serve Comfort Food to Hospice Patients

Lakewood, Ohio -- A Lakewood restaurant with an unusual name and a great big heart will launch Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Meal to Remember program at Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake on Tuesday, April 16.  Jammy Buggars Restaurant and Pub, 15625 Detroit Rd., winner of Cleveland Magazine’s 2012 Silver Spoon Award for “Best New Restaurant,” will serve hospice patients, their families and caregivers a full-course comfort food dinner.

The innovative Meal to Remember program brings a different Cleveland-area restaurant to Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake each month to allow families to enjoy a sit-down dinner together, complete with fine china and linens, wine and musical entertainment. A strolling photographer is also available to capture the special memory for families.  All of the food, time and talent is donated by the restaurant. The program was introduced at Hospice of the Western Reserve’s David Simpson Hospice House in November 2011. The roster of participating restaurants reads like a “Who’s Who” of Cleveland’s culinary community.

Jim Sprenger, owner of Jammy Buggars, grew up in the restaurant business, working alongside his brothers at the family’s restaurant in Fremont. “Opening Jammy Buggars fulfilled a lifelong dream to open a warm and welcoming neighborhood restaurant with a creative, chef-driven menu,” he said. “When we were approached by Hospice of the Western Reserve to launch Meal to Remember, I couldn’t say ‘no.’ Our specialty is comfort food -- just like being at your mother’s house for dinner -- so it’s a natural fit for us. We’re honored to play a role in bringing families together for a meal during this difficult period in their lives.”

So what’s on the menu for hospice patients and their families?  Chef Rob Geul and the culinary staff will be preparing and serving tomato bisque with three-cheese crostini, a mini-wedge salad (iceberg lettuce with carrots, cucumbers, crumbled bleu cheese and red onion dressed with balsamic vinaigrette), Papa Guel’s famous meatloaf, three-cheese macaroni, and haricot vert with caramelized mushrooms. Topping off the meal will be peanut butter and chocolate mousse. Wine for the meal will be donated by Scoperta Importing.

“It’s impossible to overstate how much the simple act of sitting around the table together to enjoy a meal means to our families,” said Bill Finn, CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve. “Meal to Remember supports our goals of fostering quality time for patients and families, and making Ames Family Hospice House a ‘home away from home.’ For many families and their loved ones receiving care, this will be the first time they have enjoyed a meal together for months. We’re extremely grateful to Jammy Buggars and the other participating restaurants for their generosity.”

Other new restaurants signing up to participate include Bruno’s Ristorante on W. 41^st St. in Cleveland, The Burntwood Tavern and The Woods, both of Rocky River, and Strip Steakhouse in Avon.