Kitchen - the "heart" of Supe Lam Thao

That day, we happened to have lunch with hundreds of workers of Lam Thao Super Phosphate and Chemical Joint Stock Company. That day's meal included meatballs in tomato sauce, fried tofu, boiled eggs, boiled vegetables, fried chicken, roasted peanuts, soup... prepared by the "artisans" in the Supe kitchen. Every dish was hot, fresh, and very attractive. We ate and chatted intimately with the workers working there.

Mr. Hoang Van Trung, a worker who has worked for 6 years at Lam Thao Super Phosphate and Chemical Joint Stock Company (Supe Lam Thao), shared: "The kitchen here is no different from a family kitchen, even more thoughtful. The trays, spoons and cups are all made of shiny stainless steel. All the dishes are carefully prepared, from the selection of ingredients to the processing. Sometimes the work at the factory is busy and tiring, but all we need to do is sit at the dining table and see the delicious, hot dishes and all the stress disappears."

"After every tiring working hour, sitting together with my colleagues, filling my hungry stomach in the bustling atmosphere of laughter, I feel the joy spreading. Meals not only help everyone recharge their energy but also give them more spirit to be ready to complete the remaining work of the day. Thinking of the saying "Only with food can one practice morality", I find that saying to be more correct and meaningful" - Mr. Trung happily said.

Having lunch with us that day, Mr. Nguyen Quoc An - Deputy General Director of Lam Thao Super Phosphate and Chemical Joint Stock Company said that the total number of workers working at Lam Thao Super Phosphate is more than 1,800 people, so we have built 3 canteens in 3 areas of the factory to avoid overload, workers do not have to crowd together to wait when it is time to eat their shift.

Each canteen has a hand washing area, a tray storage area, a food display area, a place for drinks, desserts, etc. All dining tables and trays are made of stainless steel, very clean. The kitchen space is spacious and airy with natural light and ventilation system. The rows of tables and chairs are always arranged neatly and cleanly, helping workers feel more comfortable during lunch time.

What surprised us the most was that the company's leaders often ate with the workers, with meals costing the same price of 25,000 VND. Sitting a little away from our table, I saw General Director of Supe Lam Thao Pham Thanh Tung eating with the leaders of several departments. They ate and chatted happily with each other, which created a special closeness between the leaders and the workers...

Talking to us, Ms. Vu Thi Hong Thinh, Head of the Life Enterprise - who has been working in the kitchen and serving workers for over 10 years at Supe Lam Thao shared: "Supe Lam Thao's kitchen has become an indispensable part of the workers' lives. Previously, a standard meal at Supe Lam Thao was only 20,000 VND/meal, but now it has increased to 25,000 VND. This change not only shows the Board of Directors' concern for the workers' lives but also helps us have more nutritious and delicious meals."

According to Ms. Thinh, for many years now, the cafeteria has been making its own tofu and soy milk every day. In addition to the main dishes, workers can freely drink soy milk for dessert. It is known that Supe Lam Thao serves 3 shifts a day, including lunch, afternoon, and night shifts, with an average of 800 servings per meal...

Regarding the ingredients for the dishes, female chef Hong Thinh shared, we have to choose the ingredients carefully, ensuring that when processing the tofu pieces are not too hard, nor too soft. Vegetables, fruits and other foods are also ordered from reputable suppliers, ensuring the ingredients are safe and clean... Dishes made from beans are also changed regularly, sometimes fried tofu, sometimes tomato sauce, meat sauce...

Ms. Thinh also shared: "Supe Lam Thao kitchen is not only a place to provide energy but also a spiritual encouragement, helping workers feel more attached to their workplace. In particular, recently the company's Board of Directors has invested heavily in purchasing modern kitchen equipment such as dishwashers, cup washers, dryers, kitchen utensils that meet hygiene standards..., to bring a clean, convenient and safe kitchen environment."

Thanks to the modern machinery system, chefs like Ms. Thinh have saved a lot of time cooking and cleaning, washing... Thanks to that, they have time to research, explore and create new and attractive dishes, helping the daily menu not be boring...

The menu is richly developed, suitable for each season and each week. In winter, Supe Lam Thao also installs a warming cabinet system to keep food warm, helping to ensure the health of workers.

The "artisans" of the kitchen - The joy of silent work

Every day, the chefs at Supe Lam Thao serve nearly 2,000 meals to the workers. Although the work is hard, they are always excited because they understand that they are bringing quality "spiritual" meals to their colleagues. Especially since receiving attention from the new Board of Directors, the work of the brothers and sisters in the kitchen is no longer just cooking, but has become a higher responsibility in creating connections and attachment between staff and workers in the cafeteria. Everyone always reminds each other: "The more thoughtful the cooking, the more excited and radiant the colleagues will be".

Ms. Thinh could not hide her joy when talking about the positive changes from the Board of Directors in the company: "Previously, workers were not very disciplined when eating, but with improvements in service, they have changed their awareness, together maintaining a happy atmosphere and a clean environment in the cafeteria, thereby making everyone love the company more. As a waiter, I myself feel happy because my job is valued and has more meaning."

For Ms. Thinh, kitchen service is now not just a daily job, but also a source of pride when seeing everyone enjoy delicious food, with nothing to complain about.

"Every day, we come to the kitchen very early, preparing each dish, from vegetable soup to braised meat, all of which must be fresh and delicious. Seeing the workers enjoy each dish, I feel happy and proud as if I am taking care of my own family," Ms. Thinh excitedly shared.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Huy, a worker who has worked at Supe Lam Thao for 5 years, confided: "Before, I thought industrial meals only had a few simple dishes, but when I came to Supe Lam Thao, I was really surprised. Each meal had a full main dish, side dish, and dessert. I didn't expect the company to be so attentive, I felt respected and warm."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Sam, Team Leader of the Life Enterprise, also added: "Although the work is busy, there are many days when we have to stand in the kitchen all day, but when we see everyone happy and full, we feel all the fatigue disappear. The kitchen is not just a place to cook, but also a place to light the fire of love, helping workers have more health and joy to work every day."