An intense competition for the chance of Brookdale Dining Services staff to win the Ultimate Chef America title and trophy will be held during the 2010 Ultimate Chef America tour (Tour Dates) in cities across the United States.
During each Ultimate Chef event, two teams of four Dining Services staff members will compete during a two-hour cooking competition focusing on healthy cooking for seniors. The first event will be held in Phoenix on January 28, 2010.
Dishes prepared at the event will be tasted by a panel of four judges, two of whom will be local celebrities or area food critics, one of whom is a Brookdale resident who has a culinary background, and the other judge is a wild card.
Each team can be awarded up to 25 points by each judge for each dish; consisting of up to 15 points for taste, up to 5 points for presentation, and up to 5 points for creativity. The team with the highest score is declared the winner.
Joska J.W. Hajdu, Senior Vice President of Dining Services for Brookdale Senior Living will lead the Ultimate Chef America's teams during the 2010 nationwide competitions.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the creativity, ability, and talent of our Dining Services associates will be showcased during this unique competition,” said Hajdu, who is also an Executive Chef by trade. “Ultimate Chef America will be an intense, prestigious cooking event highlighting all of the dimensions of Optimum Life in action.”
Attendees to Ultimate Chef America will be able to join in the event by gaining a close-up look at the competitors and the fast-paced competition. In addition, Brookdale has partnered with several national partners and sponsors to be included in a vendor expo. Attendees will be able to participate in various educational programs, including a seminar featuring Brookdale¹s Medical Director, Dr. Kevin O’Neil, on the topic of “Food for the Soul,” a wine tasting class featuring local wines, and a class presented by the Culinary Arts Institute at Brookdale: The Art of Seasoning.
The event will also feature a gourmet food tasting where participants will receive a taste sampling of the recipes prepared in the competition. Community tours will also be available, and participants will gain a first-hand view of the variety, styles and sizes of the private apartments and the community areas for socializing, dining and entertaining.
Staff will be available to discuss living options, and visitors will learn more about the programs, outings and opportunities offered to residents. In addition, a silent auction will be featured at the event. Proceeds of the silent auction will benefit the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, an organization which elevates the national consciousness of caregiving and fosters a culture of healthy caregivers impacted by chronic illness through programming, universal access to resources, and behavioral research.
The Ultimate Chef culinary competition is produced by the Culinary Arts Institute at Brookdale (CAI). The CAI at Brookdale is a professional development program designed to enhance the food preparation and presentation skills of Brookdale chefs. The dining and culinary arts team integrates hands-on training and classroom instructional materials that teach new food preparation skills and cutting edge techniques to enhance Brookdale residents dining experiences.
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