2009-10-14
Local chefs heat up the senior living scene
Originally published in The Davis Enterprise August 26, 2009
When you hear the words ‘senior living community,’ culinary cuisine isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But Chad Welch, regional food service director for Atria Senior Living, is working hard to change that. His goal is to take food at Atria Senior Living communities in Northern California to high-end restaurant status. And with his recent involvement in the Ultimate Dining Experience, it is clear that he is succeeding.
Welch, who oversees food preparation and menu development at 13 Atria Senior Living communities, recently prepared cuisine for the Ultimate Dining Experience, a fundraiser for local nonprofit organization Senior Concerns. Welch was the only assisted living chef who participated in the premier food and wine pairing event, typically dominated by local, well-known restaurant chefs. “Food is my passion,” Welch said. “My background is cooking at high-end restaurants, and I work hard to bring that quality of food to Atria Senior Living communities. It was really an honor to be asked to participate in the Ultimate Dining Experience.”
When members of Senior Concerns first tasted Welch’s cuisine at Atria Las Posas, they insisted that he be one of the five chefs chosen to cook for the Ultimate Dining Experience. A former chef at Mitchell Katz Winery, Welch convinced winery owner Mitchell Katz to not only donate 10 cases of wine for the fundraiser, but to fly in from Pleasanton to pour wine to pair with his culinary creations. “Chad has a heart of gold,” Katz said. “I participated in the event because Chad has helped me so many times in the past. It was a great opportunity to give back to the community and give back to Chad at the same time. When someone loves what they do, it doesn’t seem like work. His passion shows through in everything he does.” “I never thought I’d end up working for senior living communities,” Welch added. “But now I’ve made it my mission to serve up high-end cuisine where it is least expected.”
Atria Senior Living Group, the nation’s fourth largest assisted living owner-operator, provides respectful, quality care that helps approximately 13,000 older people live life to the fullest. Atria communities, including Covell Gardens in Davis, are not nursing homes; rather, they are active communities where seniors can get the care they need to live as independently as possible. At the heart of Atria’s approach is the company’s belief that superior care depends on running a superior business. That’s why Atria has developed some of the industry’s most stringent measurement tools and comprehensive training protocols. To learn more, log on to http://www.atriaseniorliving.com.