Celebrity chefs pitch in
Olsons working to bring delicious food to residents of retirement home.
Celebrity chefs Michael and Anna Olson will leave their mark on the menus of Seasons Retirement Communities, giving residents a closer connection to their communities at large through the use of local, seasonal items and fresh-baked desserts.
The Olsons and Seasons will kickoff the partnership on Tuesday, Jan. 23 with a live pie-baking demonstration - to be broadcast on Facebook Live - by Anna on National Pie Day at Seasons’ newest retirement home in Stoney Creek. Seasons has retirement homes across Ontario and Alberta, including Seasons First Avenue in Welland.
“The partnership came about because of Larry Bone, Seasons director of dining services. Michael worked with him years ago at Fallsview Casino and they got to know each other and respect each other’s capabilities,” said Anna Olson, who hosts three shows on the Food Network and is a published author of several bestselling cookbooks and magazines.
She said when Bone moved on to take the position at Seasons, he and Michael, a chef professor at Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute since 2001, continued to keep the conversation going.
“Larry’s very personable, and he’s always thinking of the guests and ways to connect everyone in the community.”
Four years ago, Bone asked the couple to come judge an apple pie contest at Seasons First Avenue.
“It was a pleasant thing for us to do … very enjoyable,” Olson said.
Amanda White, Seasons’ director of marketing and communications, said the relationship further developed between the couple and Seasons through the pie contest.
“They saw the great activities we have in the home. We approached them in the middle of 2017 and they were very eager to partner with us,” said White.
White said things moved very quickly and the pair had a lot of ideas for the culinary program within the Seasons homes.
Olson said the couple wanted to do more for Seasons, especially after she spoke at a food and beverage managers conference about innovative menu designs and bringing in local ingredients.
“We thought why not get involved directly with all Seasons properties,” she said, adding having local ingredients on the menu gives residents in the home a connection with the community they live in.
Throughout 2018, all Seasons locations will bake and serve a dessert once a month created by Anna, and twice annually, Michael will provide seasonal menus for dining services managers to work with.
“Chef Anna and Michael’s contributions to our menus supports Seasons disposition that retirement dining is flavorful, fresh and highly enjoyable,” said Bone, in a release from Seasons.
“Some people think retirement food is boring and bland. Partnering with Michael and Anna Olson helps to change this misconception while giving our own chefs new inspiration to create delicious dishes for our residents,” he added.
Olson said the partnership also channels the spirit of her grandmother and the connection she had with her.
“Our bond was food. Food brings us all together. It is more important than ever that we establish contentment and nutrition around meal time. I love what working with Seasons represents, in terms of bringing me back to my roots.”