Watching the sunrise with Executive Chef Thomas Fritz ("Fritzie") at The Waters of Excelsior means presenting a grilled tenderloin layered over tri-colored potatoes on a plate painted with a coffee-wine demi-glace and topped with a sunny-side-up egg, reminiscent of a beautiful sunrise. This dish is a prime example of the types of meals the culinary team prepares for the senior living community’s residents. Their upcoming Mother’s Day brunch is no different.
If you ask Lead Active Life Manager Lori Nugent what sets The Waters of Excelsior apart from other senior living communities, she’ll say the hospitality and intentional design of the environment, but even more so is the “wonderful culinary experience” that Chef Fritzie and his team present every day for the residents.
Those culinary experiences are exactly why holidays are so meaningful to the residents and their families. For the upcoming Mother’s Day brunch, residents are encouraged to invite family members to come enjoy a meal and socialize. And Chef Fritzie knows just how important a delicious meal around the holidays can be.
“If you can encourage people to visit more often through good food, bringing more joy to someone's life, and we can be a part of that, I think it makes a significant difference and is a big deal," says Fritzie.
The Mother’s Day brunch will offer a small buffet of items such as salads, fruits, and desserts, and residents will be able to order special entrées carefully sculpted to “step it up for the ladies,” says Fritzie.
In addition to brunch on Mother’s Day, The Waters’ female residents will have chocolates or sweets delivered to their door and roses handed out during the meal.
“For Mother’s Day — besides the meal — I think it’s a great way to honor all the amazing women we have living here,” says Lori.
And Mother’s Day is just one of the many special events that Lori and Chef Fritzie put on for the residents at The Waters. From a Christmas Gala to a Brews & Tattoos event, Lori and Fritzie enjoy putting in the effort to make an impact in the lives of each resident.
“The holidays — every night is important, every meal — and the holidays are just another day where you get an opportunity to pull out all the stops," shares Fritzie. "We want to wow them. We want to blow them out of the water.”
When Fritzie says, “every meal,” he really means it. The residents at The Waters of Excelsior receive the types of meals one would expect from a five-star restaurant every single day: prime rib, pork tenderloin, NY strip, shrimp, scallops, salmon, swordfish, and more.
But comfort foods also have a special place on the menu: meatloaf, hotdish, ham, turkey and mashed potatoes are important staples for the residents.
Whether it’s fine dining or comfort food, “The culinary team prepares wonderful meals that are not only delicious but also beautifully displayed and plated,” says Lori.
For the culinary staff to maintain their edge, the residents are encouraged to voice any concerns they have about the meals or suggest any dishes they’d like during a monthly “Coffee and Conversation” held by Chef Fritzie and his team.
Chef Fritzie and all Waters communities host these discussions every month to ensure the residents have a voice.
While the residents surely feel grateful for The Waters' staff, Chef Fritzie and Lori also feel grateful to be able to organize activities and special events like their Mother’s Day brunch. Making a difference and being able to do what they love makes The Waters of Excelsior stand out among other senior living communities. Learn more at: www.thewaters.com
If you can encourage people to visit more often through good food, bringing more joy to someone's life, and we can be a part of that, I think it makes a significant difference and is a big deal.
Every night is important, every meal. The holidays are just another day where you get an opportunity to pull out all the stops. We want to wow them. We want to blow them out of the water.