How we’re responding as our vaccination rates rise.
Every day at Sunrise communities, you’ll find chefs hard at work preparing nutritious meals designed to nourish the body. But we know our residents expect and deserve meal options that are more than just nutritious. They also want foods that look and taste great.
One of our favorite ways to keep our menus diverse and fresh is the annual Senior Eats Nutritional Challenge. Sunrise chefs from across the U.S. and Canada submit recipes for consideration and finalists are chosen.
Senior Eats Nutritional Challenge
In April, 3 finalists made the trip to the annual Sunrise Leadership Conference to compete for the title of Sunrise Signature Chef. This year’s conference was held in Orlando, Florida. The finalists and their signature dishes were:
Meet the 2019 Sunrise Signature Chef
Erwin was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. When he came to the United States, he met his first culinary mentor, Romulo Vistro, a former Mess Attendant, Second Class in the U.S. Navy.
Erwin started his Sunrise career as a lead cook at Sunrise at Bonita, CA, in 2003. In 2007, he was promoted to Dining Services Coordinator. That year, he met another mentor, Randolph Valdez. Randolph taught him the ins and outs of dining at Sunrise. Today, Erwin is a Cluster Dining Services Coordinator at Sunrise of Huntington Beach. He supports seven Sunrise communities in Orange County.
His service to Sunrise residents is one of accomplishment and distinction. He has:
If you’d like to try the recipe that earned Erwin his latest honor, we’ve included it below.
Shiitake Ginger Chicken with Jasmine Rice and Chinese Long Beans
Serves 4
Shiitake Ginger Chicken
Shiitake Ginger Mixture
Jasmine Rice and Chinese Long Beans
Heat the oil in a sauté pan over high heat. Add the beans and peppers. Cook quickly until slightly blistered. Remove from the heat and set aside.
To serve: Spoon the rice onto a plate. Top with the chicken and a spoonful of the broth. Arrange the beans, peppers, and reserved mushroom mixture over top. Sprinkle with the almonds and green onions. Sit back and enjoy!