Teammate Spotlight on Raul Solano

Raul Solano serves as Executive Chef and Food Service Director at the Mabee Foundation Café, located inside the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center. In his role, he manages the Café culinary department and strives to provide a nourishing and excellent dining experience for Faith Presbyterian Hospice (FPH) patients and family members as well as Café customers. We caught up with Raul for a fun Q and A to learn more about him. Read about this hard-working teammate below.

What are you passionate about regarding your professional role?
Professionally, I am passionate about preparing and serving great meals to our patients and customers. What keeps me inspired is the creative freedom my job offers and the opportunity to deliver the very best every day. Seeing the smiles on our patients’ and their loved ones’ faces when they enjoy a meal is the most rewarding aspect of my role.

Favorite memory/moment to date during your time at the Café:
One of my favorite memories is winning first place in a recent culinary competition at Presbyterian Village North (PVN), where we competed against six other PVN culinary teams and proudly brought back the winning trophy to display in the Café. Another moment that stands out was when a patient shared they hadn’t eaten in two weeks but after arriving at FPH and trying our meals, they were finally able to eat again. That touched our hearts in the culinary department and reminded us why we do what we do.

What is something that makes you feel proud?
I am most proud of our culinary team and all of their daily hard work and effort. Each teammate has flourished in their position. I’m also very proud about my personal health journey, I lost 115 lbs in one year! I’ve taken a new approach to being healthier daily, which includes a full vegetable and protein diet, a lot of water and keeping busy. 

How does it feel when your team receives a positive Google review?
This always makes me proud and feel energized. I take a moment to soak it in, then share it with the team. It’s a reminder that our hard work is seen, appreciated and makes a difference for the patients and families we serve at FPH. Check out some of the most recent reviews here.

On the weekend, you can find me:
You can find me working in my backyard, listening to old songs my grandma used to listen to and enjoying the weather. I love spending time with my wife and children, and I like trying new places in Dallas since I am still new to Texas.

What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants?
My favorite restaurant would have to be all of them! I enjoy all multicultural cuisine, but I really like tacos de trompo.

Favorite dish(es) to cook or order: 
My favorite dishes to cook are braised beef short ribs or smoked ribs and brisket. I do this every weekend!

Tell us about your hobbies:
My creative outlet is working on new culinary ideas and menus. 

Share about your family:
I have been married to my wife Jessica for 20 years and they have been the best years of my life! She takes care of our three beautiful children so well. Our oldest daughter Eliana is smart, beautiful and surprises me every day. Our son Isaiah is nonverbal autistic and a blessing to our family. I advocate for him daily. We have been working on vocabulary together and have made great progress. Most recently, Isaiah has been able to wave at me and say hi when I walk through the door. This warms my heart! Our youngest is two years old and her name is Savannah. She is my mini-me but has beautiful curly hair and she loves to sing.

How would your friends describe you?
My friends would say that I am kind-hearted, understanding, loyal and would describe me as the fun guy! I try to make a bad situation better and try to speak positively in moments of grief or uncertainty. I put my heart into all my relationships.