Meet Lantern Hill’s New Executive Chef, Ron Pericone

At Lantern Hill, an Erickson Senior Living-managed community in New Providence, N.J., residents have their choice of three on-site dining venues. At the helm of it all is Executive Chef Ronald Pericone. He oversees all of the restaurants’ operations, including menu development and the creation of weekly specials as well as prep production and service.

Pericone has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years in corporate dining, restaurants, and hotels. He holds an executive chef certification through the American Culinary Federation and has more than 15 years of experience in that role. Most recently, he served as director of food and beverage for PM Hotel Group.

Pericone came to Lantern Hill in April 2021, and he says he loves the sense of community he gets at his new job.

Variety is the spice of life Pericone says that no two workdays are the same in his new position, which keeps things interesting. One day he may be creating a new plate presentation that’s sure to wow residents. The next, he may be planning and executing a special menu for a holiday, like this year’s Mother’s Day meal, which featured a soup of lobster bisque and a Bibb salad; a choice of six main entreés, including delicious options such as smoked salmon eggs Benedict and grilled filet mignon along with two sides with options like saffron risotto and Asiago asparagus; and delectable desserts such as layered pound cake with fresh berries and caramel apple pie.

“I’m always busy and moving,” says Pericone.

 A bright future

During this busy and exciting time, Pericone is hard at work training new employees and ensuring that cuisine and service evolve and improve to consistently exceed residents’ expectations. His priorities are to continually improve the consistency and quality of the cooking and shifting to a lighter, more seasonal menu as the weather warms up.

An online restaurant reservation system, accessible via the My Erickson app, makes it even easier and more convenient for residents to plan their dining experiences, giving them the opportunity to schedule reservations up to a week in advance with the option to change or cancel at any time. Residents can also make reservations by phone on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Consider being part of a strong and caring senior living community like Lantern Hill. Beautiful walking paths, gardens, resort-style amenities, an on-site medical center staffed by full-time medical professionals, and new friends await. Request a brochure or a visit now.