“Karaage chicken sliders for lunch today? ALL RIGHT!”

It’s not only residents making a beeline to the dining room to place their orders—United team members are just as excited to get their hands on the popular bite-sized lunch feature, accompanied by a hearty corn chowder and fresh seasonal greens.

Appealing to an entire community’s discerning tastes is all in a day’s work for United’s Culinary team, led by Chef Jayson and Chef Kevin. From cruise ships and golf courses, to high-end hotels in far-flung destinations, the Culinary team brings a world of experience to the table. This global perspective is reflected on an ever-changing menu of adventurous daily lunch and dinner features, and carefully balanced by a selection of familiar comfort foods found on United’s popular all-day menu. United’s communities certainly have their share of culinary adventurers, but who doesn’t crave a bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup once in a while?

There’s more to a meal than what’s on the menu

While global ingredients differ vastly, one thing doesn’t. Around the world and across the ages, the hearth is the heart of not only the family within, but it’s also where an extended community naturally gravitates to.

The table is where we find our centre; the special place we gather with our loved ones to celebrate and commiserate—squeezing one more chair in, breaking bread, passing plates, and dishing up stories. Volumes of family history are built incrementally through second helpings, heaping teaspoons, and overflowing cups. We restore our connections to loved ones when we reclaim the wisdom they passed down to us: how to stretch dough through the winter till the spring thaw, or where the catch of the day will be when it’s raining. Perhaps you’ve poured over a sacred family tome together, fastidiously prying open the pages of a (literally) battered cookbook in an attempt to decode the long-faded shorthand scribbled in the margins. Will this be the day you finally unlock the secret to Grandma’s world-famous blue-ribbon potato salad? (Hint: Grandma will insist the secret ingredient is love. We’re inclined to agree—but it might also be pickle juice. Trust us.)

The secret sauce, revealed

When it comes to mealtimes in a typical seniors’ community, creating that intrinsic feel of home is a tall order: assigned seating, scheduled meal times, and a take-it-or-leave it menu may tick all the boxes nutritionally, but leaves out some key ingredients important to a satisfying meal: choice, freedom, hospitality, and connection to name a few.

United’s dining rooms were purposefully designed as the hub of each community. A vibrant, welcoming place where residents can drop in, pull up a chair, and connect with each other at any time during the course of their day.

Back in the employee lounge, the chatter subsides, replaced by nods of approval as team members dig into their sliders—taking time to savour their meal before returning to work. “My favourite work perk is ordering meals while I’m on shift,” says Maddoch, who works as a server at Garrison Green. “Not only is it an economical option for me, but it also saves me a ton of time as I don't need to prepare meals at home.”

“Offering our team members the opportunity to purchase meals at a deep discount has frequently come up as an important perk of working at United,” Amy McDonough, Executive Director at Fish Creek, “Not only do we get a delicious meal made to order, but it’s become another way for us to connect with residents—we all LOVE to talk about food!” Amy laughs, “When residents see team members enjoying the same menu they enjoy, it becomes a shared experience. It’s a way for us to build trust, and we also encourage each other to try new things. It also shows we stand behind the quality and value of the meals that our Culinary teams deliver each day.”

Food for thought

With a new season approaching, Chef Jayson and Chef Kevin are working together to update the daily features menu to incorporate resident feedback and introduce new dishes, along with classic seasonal fare. While the menu will be reviewed and approved by a Dietician to ensure it’s nutritionally comprehensive, there are many other considerations that go into curating a menu to please a broad variety of palates.

“We have a lot of foodies at United­—they want to try the trendy dishes that are popular in restaurants, and we strike a balance of creating meals that reflect their tastes, but in an approachable way,” says Chef Jayson. “Having the variety of features gives residents something to look forward to.”

Chef Kevin adds, “We always have the all-day menu available for residents to have the option to choose something comforting and familiar if that’s what they want. There’s something for everybody, even if what you’re craving changes from day to day—or even between breakfast and lunch!”

As for the Karaage chicken sliders—we’re all waiting to see if they’ll find a place on the Autumn menu—because we’re ready for seconds.

Hungry for more? Stop by United and see what we’re serving in the dining room and beyond!