Chef Cooks Turkey for ER Crews

While most of us enjoy a day off and a hot meal on Thanksgiving Day, emergency workers are often on the job no matter the holiday.

Sapphire Laguna Chef Azmin Ghahreman figures if they can't have the day off, the emergency staff at Mission Hospital should at least have a nice hot meal.

Ghahreman has been donating food for the past 11 years, first at in San Juan Capistrano, then to a local fire station, and now to the hard working emergency staff at Mission Hospital.

He explains his generosity: "They are always so gracious and take care of everyone with open arms. You're donating a lot of time to sick people, so you've got to be rewarded." So Ghahreman, who was once executive chef of the San Regis in Dana Point, gives back.

And what does he get in return?

"Gratitude in my heart. I get a hug from the nurses, and when those doors open they go, 'Wow, somebody thought about us?"

The hospital staff will receive a whole turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And everything is made from scratch.

Not only does it make the head chef happy, but he says his employees get into it, too.

And what does a top chef's workday look like on Thanksgiving? Ghahreman plans to work until 7 p.m., then enjoy turkey and a glass of wine with his wife and four kids. But Friday, he says, is a busy one. That's the start of the holiday season, after all.