Silvergate Rancho Bernardo
When seniors look for a retirement community to call home, they pay close attention to the meal offerings and dining experience they can expect to have when they move in. After cooking for decades, the idea of letting someone else handle the grocery shopping and make the meals can be a welcome change of pace for many seniors.
At Silvergate Rancho Bernardo, the area’s newest luxury senior living community, finding an Executive Chef who could marry together the highest caliber dining experience with the finest food being delivered to the table in any senior living community was the ultimate goal.
An exhaustive search brought the culinary talents and vast experience of Executive Chef Laurent Baillon to Silvergate, where he will head up the operations for the community’s formal dining venue, The El Castillo, and an open-concept bistro and sports pub dubbed Dave’s Bar.
Born into an established family of restauranteurs from Normandy, France, Baillon first discovered his acumen for the kitchen arts in his father’s French kitchen of more than 40 years, where he gained a foundation in the proper methods of cooking, serving and enjoying great food. It was only a matter of time before he’d earned his stripes as a Pastry Chef and brought his cooking and baking skills to the kitchens of renowned restaurants in Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey and Riverside and San Diego counties. He joins Silvergate on the heels of a colorful career in fine dining, which he enjoys sharing with residents tableside at Silvergate every day.
Silvergate Retirement Rancho Bernardo
“We’re thrilled to have Laurent guiding us on a daily culinary adventure with our residents,” said Sondra Brakeville, Executive Director at Silvergate Rancho Bernardo. “Not only is he developing menus that offer fresh and delicious fare every single day, he’ll be offering specialized cooking classes to our residents, wine tasting adventures in our Private Dining Rooms and catering parties for residents who would like to entertain in their apartments or outdoors in any of the lovely spots here on campus.”
Residents are already raving about Baillon’s considerable culinary talents. With his focus on passion and patience in the kitchen, Baillon concentrates on using new and different flavors to light up the senses of smell, taste and touch – which residents have come to appreciate with each new dish they try from the Silvergate restaurant menus. Steering clear of foods that have no real value for seniors, such as frozen, fried and pre-packaged foods, Baillon believes will make residents happier and healthier in the long run.
“I can’t say enough about the food here at Silvergate,” said Lynn Smith, who moved into Silvergate with her husband in mid-July. “Every meal has been fabulous. We just love our new Chef here at our new home. He comes right to our table; let’s us ask about how he prepared the meal; and, he talks with us about his plans for new nightly specials. We couldn’t have made these kinds of amazing meals before at home. The thought and work that goes into making something this mouth-wateringly good takes years to master. We’re so happy we chose to come to Silvergate.”
Baillon has partnered with his Dining Room Manager, Gabriela Rodriguez, of more than 10 years to open both of Silvergate’s on-site restaurants. The powerhouse kitchen duo has managed to open both venues, while still catering to residents who require direct delivery of meals to their apartments as they quarantine to avoid exposure to the pandemic. Keeping residents well fed, and at the same time safe, has become a daily endeavor for Baillon and his staff.
“We want everyone to have a real restaurant experience here at Silvergate,” said Baillon, who enjoys collecting antique chocolate molds, vintage terrines and old cookbooks. “When we get through this pandemic, I hope to be able to bring local artisanal food items into the dining room here from places like the local farmer’s markets and specialty food purveyors. We offer a Ritz-Carlton-style experience to residents with superior menu choices and top-notch table-side service. We buy the freshest ingredients and we design our menu to for resident health and enjoyment. We’re even started growing our own herbs and veggies right here at Silvergate until we can venture back out into the world again.”
Silvergate Rancho Bernardo Prices
Silvergate now offers multiple ways to connect. New virtual tours and videos are available online Live “FaceTime” tours also are being offered. For family members and prospective residents who want to experience the community directly, a private, in-person tour can be scheduled by calling (858) 451-1100. To learn more about independent living, assisted living and memory care accommodations, visit www.SilvergateRR.com to request pricing.