Silvergate Kicks Off New Dining Series: Dinner with the Chef
Executive Chef Travis introduces monthly taster dinner with Silvergate residents
San Marcos, CA – Silvergate Retirement Residence, a locally owned, top-rated retirement and assisted living community in San Diego County, piloted a new monthly dining event for residents called Dinner with the Chef. For this month’s inaugural event, Chef Travis Jennings introduced new menu items to a small group of residents. The small, reservation-required dinner also gave residents the opportunity to dine with Silvergate Retirement Residence owner David Petree and administrator Melba Dunn in a more intimate setting.
Chef Travis joined Silvergate at the end of last year and brings over 20 years of being in the kitchen to the community. His passion for cooking began when he was a teenager. His mother did not enjoy cooking, so he took it upon himself to take on the responsibility to make meals for the family. “I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” Chef Travis explained. “I love how different tastes and flavors blend in surprising ways and I enjoy creating and discovering new dishes inspired by these flavors.”
The event gave Chef Travis the opportunity to introduce new recipes on a small sample of residents before introducing the dishes to the whole community. The evening’s mystery prix fixe menu started with homemade olive and rosemary focaccia bread served with a roasted garlic, basil and truffle oil pesto spread. Next was an appetizer of seared sea scallops with a beurre blanc sauce and saffron oil, topped with lemon garnish.
For the main course, diners enjoyed a rack of lamb with beurre rouge sauce made from a reduction of fresh blueberries, rosemary and Bordeaux red wine. The lamb was accompanied by a white wine and rosemary couscous and green bean amandine.
The meal concluded with homemade traditional bread pudding with caramel glaze and vanilla bean ice cream a la mode.
Residents enjoyed the new dining experience. “Besides the food being delicious, it was presented beautifully,” explained Silvergate resident Eileen Murphy. “It was a nice opportunity for me to meet the owner and learn the history and future of Silvergate.”
Since Chef Travis and Dining Room Supervisor Don Murders joined the Silvergate team at the end of 2013, dining satisfaction ratings have skyrocketed, achieving a 98% in the last resident survey.
To learn more about Silvergate’s premier dining services call (760) 744-4484 to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.