In our communities, meal times are special. Visiting friends and family gather together, or residents meet up with new friends and neighbors to share a meal and some quality time. Many of our residents build their day around meals, making plans to meet with friends at breakfast to start their day, or have dinner with their best friend and reflect on the goings on in their lives and community.
We understand that mealtimes are about more than just eating, and that’s why for our chefs and culinary teams it is about more than just food.
Our chefs have a passion for food, but also a love for serving their community, creating new and inspired dishes, and cooking with care and love. At Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs, Chef Rose Phillips-Carrembodies what it means to put her heart and soul into her food. We sat down to chat with her about her culinary journey, her experience at Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs, and why she loves cooking in a senior community.
Chef Rose’s Story:
How did you get into cooking?
Being a Chef is a talent that I have inherited from my mom and a gift from God. My mom was a great chef and taught me most of what I know. She instilled in me that if you can make people happy when they eat your food they will love you and remember you forever. But, she also said that if you cook them bad food they will remember that too.
I began cooking at home with my mom as a young child. We shared lots of laughs about my cooking failures and smiled about my successes. She gave me lots of recipes and told me to get them in your heart and you will never forget them. Some recipes I will share but most of them I won't.
Tell us a bit about your professional culinary journey.
I've been in the culinary industry for about 40 years. Cooking is what I love and the more people I can cook for at one time the happier I am. I feel that when you have a gift from God it will come easy and cooking for me is a luxury. Whenever I'm cooking I'm thinking about who will be feasting on what I've created.
I began working at the University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 18 as a dishwasher and I quickly moved up to line cook. I was there for only 90 days when they decided to make me the bakery manager. Two years later I was promoted to Food Service Director. I've always done catering on the side as well. I got licensed and opened my own catering business and daycare.
How did you end up at Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs?
In 2014 I moved to California. Just wanting to be a cook in someone's kitchen, I went to culinary school to get papers. I began working in a senior community and applied to be the cook and they made me the chef. Then the Executive Director who hired me moved jobs to another community. She asked me to come with her to Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs. I began working for Pacifica in October of 2018.
What do you love most about working in a senior living community?
I love working with the seniors even though it can be a challenge with all the different diets. I feel like I can make a difference because I not only love a challenge but I listen to my residents' concerns, wants and needs.
I believe that the most fun that I've had here at Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs is on Thursdays when we have our community luncheon and the residents are able to feel as if they are at a restaurant. The joy on their faces and to watch them place their orders and enjoy laughing and talking with different residents makes my soul happy.
Try one of Chef Rose’s recipes at home for yourself:
CHEF ROSE'S EASY ROTINI PASTA SALAD
2 cups cooked pasta (Al Dente)
1/3 cup cooked broccoli (Al Dente)
1/3 cup sliced cucumbers
1/3 cup mandarin oranges
1/3 cup slice red onions
1/3 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced black olives
6 oz Italian dressing
Salt n pepper
Mix well and enjoy!
Our chefs and culinary team members bring something special to each community. Beyond training and culinary expertise, their passion for food and flavor makes each meal something truly special. Come visit to share a meal with us.
