Before the sun rises for the day, Sal Gilroy is prepping breakfast for the residents at Riddle Village. He works past sunset, making sure hungry bellies are filled. Just when he’s ready to head home to enjoy his weekend off, he runs into a resident at the bar watching the Philly’s game. The resident, with a smile, asks, “Can you go downstairs and get me one of them little ice cream bars?”
It takes no time for Gilroy to grab one from downstairs. It’s easy for Chef to sit down with the gentleman for an inning or two as he enjoys his sweet treat. It’s comforting to talk about the game before he leaves for the night. After his weekend off, Gilroy returns to learn that the resident passed away. “The residents deserve to be taken care of,” says Gilroy. “Always give your best, always do your best because you never know.”
As the head chef at Riddle Village, Gilroy doesn’t just cook for residents—he makes certain that no one ever goes without. He has worked at Riddle Village as a line cook in 2001. Over the years, he moved on to Lead Healthcare Chef, tending to residents in Skilled Nursing and Personal Care. This position allowed him to work with all types of diets and dietary restrictions. After two years, Sal was interviewed for the executive chef position and and became Executive Head Chef of the Dining Rooms in 2013.
“The difference from working here and a restaurant is that you don’t have to come back to a restaurant,” says Gilroy. “Here, we serve the same residents every day, so I’m going to keep on trying my best to please you.”
According to Gilroy, he wouldn’t be here this long if he didn’t love it. Being a chef, Gilroy loves to create new, exciting dishes for the residents to enjoy. He created “Chef Night” where the culinary team creates a specialty menu with new dishes to try. If the residents respond well to a dish, the kitchen will add it to their permanent menu.
“The menu is actually being created by the residents by what they like and what they don’t like,” says Gilroy.
The kitchen runs samples in their cafe: The Garden Terrace. They learn everything from what flavors the residents like to how they like them cooked. The kitchen hears feedback from residents both verbally and written and adjusts their meals accordingly.
In addition to his formal culinary education, Gilroy enjoys getting inspiration from his travels and bringing menu ideas back to Riddle Village for the residents to try. “I want to know what’s new out there. What can I bring to this community?” He takes pictures of dishes to recreate them all because he wants the residents to enjoy the same things he does.
Now that autumn is in full swing, dishes like butternut squash soup and hot bowls of chili are just a taste of what residents can expect when they sit down for a meal. The kitchen works to source as many ingredients locally as they can. This way, the ingredients are fresher. “Sometimes, we even get a resident who might say ‘we have a couple zucchinis out in the garden’ and I’ll add it to the dish.”
If a resident needs their dish altered, Gilroy has it under control. Anyone can inquire about a particular dish and learn what ingredients are used. If a resident has a concern about allergies or dietary restrictions, Gilroy and the culinary team will make modifications to the dish or guide a resident to a different option that meets their needs. “We offer vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free and sugar-free options.” Gilroy lists. “We strive to cater to many dietary needs. With four restaurants, each featuring different menus, there are so many choices to pick from.”
On a typical day at Riddle Village, Gilroy oversees 20 chefs in the main kitchen who prepare dishes for the 4 restaurants in Independent Living and breakfast, lunch and dinner for the residents residing in Personal Care and Skilled Nursing. Holidays are no exception. Riddle Village is open every day of the year.
On holidays, like Thanksgiving, residents often invite guests to dine in one of the restaurants that feature an extravagant holiday buffet. If they are looking for something more private, Riddle Village has several dining venues they can reserve to host family. The culinary team will prepare the holiday meal, set the room, and clean up after the event. Menu items, like turkey and sides are made to order, allowing residents to focus their time on enjoying their loved ones.
When he’s not personalizing family dinners for the holidays, Gilroy is personalizing the residents’ birthdays. “I’m very big on birthdays. I like to personalize them—like ice sculptures, specialty cakes and favorite dishes,” he says. “If it’s your 99th birthday, if it’s your 100th birthday—doesn’t matter.”
Gilroy recently catered a 100th birthday party where he created an ice sculpture of the big ‘100’ and even carved her name inside of it. The resident was appreciative, even going so far as to seek him out to give her thanks.
“I think I’m very big on birthdays because to be honest—and it’s true with any of us—tomorrow’s not promised,” Gilroy admits. “If you have a birthday, I’m going to make it the best birthday I possibly can.”
Gilroy loves a good challenge and problem solving. He exemplifies this through doing what he can to ensure the residents are taken care of. Gilroy credits the freedom he has in his position to the Director of Dining Services, Larry Bates, recently retired Assistant Director of Dining Services, Gloria Tursi, and President/CEO of Riddle Village Kim Roguszewski. “They gave me an opportunity. They gave me a platform to be creative and trusted me,” he says. “They said ‘Hey, you can take this kitchen to another level’ and to have the kind of support that I have? I’m so grateful.”
Gilroy loves his job and he loves what he does. He loves to see everyone and hold conversations with them. “It’s not uncommon on a normal day to run into the CEO who genuinely wants to know how my family is doing. Or pass by the VP and ask about my weekend. They know my family; I know their family. That’s a beautiful thing.”
Above all else, Gilroy is thankful to know that the residents feel safe. “The residents of this community are my priority” says Gilroy. “I expect the whole culinary team to also have that same priority. This is their home and every day should be special.” That’s just how much Chef Gilroy cares about each and every resident in Riddle Village.
riddlevillage.com
“If you have a birthday, I’m going to make it the best birthday I can possible.”
“Always give your best, always do your best because you never know.”