Oak Crest Culinary Team Wins Top Honors for Best Dessert at LifeSpan Event

Parkville, Maryland--Executive Chef Joseph Bollinger and the culinary professionals from Oak Crest, a distinctive senior living community developed and managed by Erickson Living, won the Best Dessert Award at the 2019 "A Taste of Senior Living" competition sponsored by LifeSpan Network.  The event, held at the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville on October 24, featured the delicious creations of 28 senior living communities from the mid-Atlantic region.

For the winning entry, Chef Bollinger and his team presented a hazelnut and chocolate mousse petit fours with a hazelnut cookie crust served with a pumpkin Frangelico cream sauce.  It marked the second consecutive year that Chef Bollinger and Team Oak Crest captured the Best Dessert prize.

LifeSpan's Taste of Senior Living event brings together great food, great people and serious competition.  Senior living community cuisine professionals are invited to compete for honors across several categories, with an elite team of judges plus a popular vote of those in attendance.  Chefs have an opportunity to flex their creative muscle as communities demonstrate the cuisine that wins the hearts and stomachs of discriminating residents. 

In addition to Oak Crest winning the Best Dessert Award, sister communities from across the Erickson Living enterprise achieved success.  The culinary professionals from Cedar Crest in Pequannock, New Jersey, won the Silver Spoon award, and the team from Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland, received top honors for Best Appetizer.

"As the Director of Culinary for Erickson Living, I am humbled by the talent of our chefs showcased daily in our communities as well as at events like the Taste of Senior Living.  As we continue to build and cultivate our food integrity, it is exciting to have the opportunity to lead our culinary teams creating a culture where reputation matters," said Philip Maloney, director of culinary for Erickson Living.

Residents at Oak Crest enjoy a variety of fresh menu offerings, executed at the moment of service and delivered in seven distinctive dining venues ranging from casual to formal.  

About Oak Crest: Oak Crest, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 87-acre campus in Parkville, Maryland.  The not-for-profit community of more than 2,100 residents and 1,250 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of Oak Crest.  Additional information can be found at OakCrestCommunity.com.