Creating a Dining Experience That Feels Special
In our communities, the dining room is not only a place to eat—it’s an essential part of residents’ daily routines. It’s where days begin, conversations unfold, and connections deepen.
We recently asked one of our residents at Sunrise of Scottsdale, Gwen, to share her thoughts on Sunrise’s signature dining experience. “The food is tasty,” she said. “I like the fact that we do the tablecloth for a meal. I think [it makes for a] nicer dining experience.”
Then, with a laugh, she added, “I like that I don’t have to cook it and I like that I don’t have to clean up after it either—I think that’s the best part.”
Gwen has her favorites, too—meatloaf and a hearty dish she described as chili, baked potato, and broccoli covered in cheese. Meals like these remind residents of home, comfort, and warmth—which is exactly what our chefs work to create each day.
At Sunrise of Woodcliff Lake, residents echoed that same sense of comfort and gratitude. One resident, Bob, shared that his favorite dish was the beef tips and his adoration for the dining team.
“They’ve got a good staff here—best I’ve ever seen,” Bob said.
Other residents at the community also spoke highly of the delicious soups, fresh fruit, and variety of dessert options available each day. Many shared how much they appreciate the restaurant-style setting, which helps dining feel dignified and accessible.
Cooking with Heart and Creative Freedom
At Sunrise of Scottsdale—our senior living community in Arizona—Adriana, the dining services coordinator starts each day with a simple goal: to bring happiness to residents through delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals.
“Being able to come in every day and just see them happy with whatever we [make and serve]—that’s what keeps me going.”
Her approach to cooking is rooted in a few guiding principles: beautiful presentation, adherence to dietary guidelines, great flavor, and having fun.
She encourages her team to use their creative liberty to help residents enjoy hearty meals that are both nutritionally balanced and made from scratch.
Personalized senior nutrition is also central to her work. Through Sunrise’s Tableside Dining technology, Adriana and her team quickly reference residents’ dietary needs, preferences, and allergies right at the table—helping ensure every meal supports each resident’s well-being without compromising taste or presentation.
Adriana noted that her team tries to adjust the daily dishes whenever possible so that no one feels left out by being served a different meal. If several residents share a dietary restriction, they’ll modify a batch of the recipe for the whole group. And, if someone has a unique need, they create a personalized alternative—right down to matching the puree version to the original dish as close as they can.
For Adriana, cooking is only half the job—the other half is connection.
When asked how often she interacts with the residents, she said: “Every day. It’s a priority of mine to be able to interact with people I’m serving. If I’m behind closed doors all the time, then I’m not [going to] have that personal connection.”
She encourages her team to engage with residents as well. Her goal is for team members to spend time in the dining rooms so they can put faces to residents’ names.
At Sunrise of Lincoln Park, this same passion shines through Executive Chef Steven, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who brings fine‑tuned technique and heartfelt intention to every plate.
“I love making my residents smile,” Steven shared. “All our food is fresh—fresh ingredients, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit. We make all our sauces from scratch.”
And at The Apsley, Executive Chef Kfir brings global culinary experience and deep personal commitment to his role.
“It’s not a job, it’s a mission: to make the residents happy,” Kfir said.
Kfir is known for never saying no to a request—even if it means driving out to a local farm to source venison or wild boar for a resident who loves adventurous dishes.
“We have 140 residents. I know all of them by their names and I know their family members by their names too,” Kfir said. “For me, it’s like cooking for family.”
Together, these chefs embody the spirit of Sunrise dining—creativity, hospitality, and a genuine love for the people they serve.
Celebrating Creativity and Wellness Through Food
At Sunrise of Crystal Lake, dining has expanded into an unexpected source of empowerment, wellness, and connection through a cooking club called “Rolling Scones.”
Jamie Murphy, the community’s activities and volunteer coordinator, thought of the club idea while on a personal journey toward healthier living—one she suspected residents might share. Six months later, it has become one of the community’s most beloved weekly traditions.
Each Saturday, six to seven residents—many of whom previously didn’t participate in group activities—come together to cook healthier versions of their favorite meals. Using fresh ingredients, they craft various dishes, including salads, soups, pizzas, and pasta dishes, often improvising rather than relying on recipes.
One resident who is gluten‑free has found new confidence and enjoyment in meals she once avoided. Some weeks, the group makes enough food to share with others in the community, even engaging visitors who stop by during tours.
Jamie shared that the residents enjoy experimenting with flavors and ingredients because they’ve become so confident in knowing what they like. The joy comes not only from the dishes they prepare, but also from the collaboration, creativity, and camaraderie that naturally grow each week.
Bringing Diversity, Choice, and Joy to the Table
For nearly six years, RJ, the dining services coordinator at Sunrise of Gilbert, has been crafting an unforgettable dining experience for residents—one that blends culinary creativity, nutritional variety, and dependable quality.
He describes the community’s food as “upscale casual,” with menus that offer variety and familiarity in equal measure.
“We try to do various different dishes,” he explained. “We’re quite diverse in our menus. We have nine sandwiches always available, we have an entrée salad always available, and we do a five‑week cycle.”
This rotating cycle helps RJ introduce new flavors while still giving residents a reliable structure they can look forward to each week. And no matter how creative the offerings are, residents still love the classics.
“For the residents, it’s all about the homestyle stuff,” he said. “Meatloaf, chicken and biscuits, stuffed peppers, pot roast.”
And for RJ? His favorite thing to cook is whatever brings residents joy.
“Just seeing a smile on their faces is what does it for me,” he said.
He gathers feedback daily in both dining rooms, attends regular meetings to collect resident input, and uses their suggestions to guide ongoing culinary enhancements.
Where Nourishment and Connection Rise Together
Across Sunrise communities, dining is more than food—it’s an experience shaped by care, creativity, and personal connection. Whether it’s Gwen savoring her favorite dish, Adriana crafting beautifully balanced meals, RJ refining menus based on resident feedback, or Jamie empowering residents through a wellness-focused cooking club, each story demonstrates that nutrition thrives when it’s supported with dignity, joy, and heart.
Every day, Sunrise team members create nutritious, delectable meals to serve residents in our dining rooms—honoring their preferences, sparking connection, and celebrating the flavors of home. In many of our communities, residents can also stop by the bistro to enjoy light refreshments throughout the day.
To learn more about the Sunrise senior living dining experience and how we support personalized nutrition, we invite you to find a Sunrise Senior Living community near you. Our team members are honored to help residents rise—one nourishing, meaningful meal at a time.