News Releases
Peter Becker Retirement Community Residents, Executive Chefs Compete in “Chefs Challenge”
HARLEYSVILLE, PA, March 8, 2010 – Residents of Peter Becker Retirement Community in Harleysville, PA, will don their chef coats to compete side-by-side with Peter Becker Retirement Community executive chefs in the community’s “Chefs Challenge” event, Friday, March 12, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Arbor Conference Center. The Peter Becker Retirement Community “Chefs Challenge” will coincide with the community’s annual flower show featuring “Flowers, Fairy Tales & Fantasies”, March 11-13.
Based on the Food Network’s popular “Iron Chefs” show where the secret ingredient is revealed just prior to the competition, two teams of three will compete for The Golden Wisk Award.
Chef teams will feature the culinary talents of Peter Becker Retirement Community resident Walter Redden, 84, originally from Philadelphia. A retired power engineer from PECO Energy, Redden was a cook in the marines from 1943 to 1946. “I occasionally cook a good stew, chili and pot roast. I’m looking forward to the Chefs Challenge. It’s something different to do,” says Redden.
Rita Fox, 79, will also participate in the Chefs Challenge. “I’ve been a basic cook all of my life. It will be fun to have a different perspective of being on the other side of the fence -- to experience how chefs cook in the kitchen,” says Mrs. Fox. Originally from Jeffersonville, PA, Mrs. Fox has resided at Peter Becker Retirement Community for 18 years and volunteers for the community’s auxiliary that fundraises for various Peter Becker Retirement Community causes.
An impressive panel of judges will critique foods based on taste, presentation and originality. They include Marge Janoski, 87, an 11-year Peter Becker Community Retirement Community resident. Upon graduating from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA, Mrs. Janoski completed culinary arts training sponsored by the Statler Hotels. Certified by The American Restaurant Association, Mrs. Janoski learned everything from food preparation to managing food service and catering operations. Although she is retired from teaching home economics in Princeton and Wayne, NJ schools, Mrs. Janoski still enjoys baking and watching others cook. “I enjoy the Iron Chefs show, but now I pay more attention to how they judge,” laughs Mrs. Janoski. Deb Takes, President of Harleysville National Bank, and David F. Enchel, Principal of Berks Ridge Enterprises, will also serve as judges.
Each team will have 1.5 hours to prepare two plated courses (appetizer, salad, main entrée) using a secret ingredient in each course that will be announced the day of the show by Peter Becker Retirement Community President and CEO Carol Berster. Resident participants will be permitted to bring one ingredient of their choice, while chefs (managed by Cura Hospitality) will provide pantry items including flour, sugar, spices, fresh herbs, produce, pork, poultry and beef. Teams are required to prepare three servings of each food for a panel of three judges with one show plate per course.
TEAM FLAIR (DEFENDING CHAMPIONS):
Chef Anthony Dippolito, Guest Sous Chef Walter Redden, Support Cook Jenn Benner.
About Chef Anthony Dippolito:
Chef Anthony’s humble beginnings started with preparing from scratch pizza and bread dough’s to serving private meals to the president of a fortune 500 pharmaceuticals company. Chef Anthony is classically trained and has honed his skills in several fine dining restaurants and on and off premise catering companies, in addition to attending extensive corporate college food service training. Prior to joining Peter Becker Community in January 2008, Chef Anthony was selected as a traveling chef introducing and implementing new food concepts for a major food service company. Chef Anthony enjoys Italian cuisine with French influences, using proper cooking techniques and simply prepared with an emphasis on freshness. In his spare time, Chef Anthony enjoys fishing with his son.
TEAM FLAVOR:
Chef Kim Kok, Guest Sous Chef Rita Fox, Support Cook Brenda Albertson
About Chef Kim Kok:
With more than 25 years experience in the food industry, Chef Kim has worked for Peter Becker Retirement Community since July 2006 as a cook in the Maplewood Estates. Originally from Cambodia, Chek Kim has worked in the United States for 26 years, and lives in Harleysville. Prior to working at Peter Becker Retirement Community, Chef Kim worked as a quality control technician and from 1995 to 2005, owned and operated Kim-Kim Food Services.
Chef Kim chose the name “Team Flavor” because there are tremendous amounts of flavor in food and more than anything, she loves to cook! “There are all types of flavor no matter what type of food is served. This Peter Becker Retirement Community Chef Challenge will be very interesting and filled with tons of flavor no matter what we will need to prepare. I am sure that no matter what the ingredients, there is a large possibility that the plates I cook will have their own Asian twist,” says Chef Kim.
ABOUT CURA HOSPITALITY
A member of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Cura Hospitality is a highly responsive and innovative dining services and hospitality provider dedicated to a mission of Enhancing Life Around Great Food. With its headquarters in Orefield, Pa., Cura serves over 50 senior living communities and hospitals throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia. Cura’s professionals provide hospitality and clinical care to more than 20,000 residents, patients and guests each day. Visit us at www.curahospitality.com.
