Lane Richardson has worked in the dining scene since he was 14—including a stretch as head chef for Dovetail restaurant, a local favorite. During this time, he never thought he’d one day be in charge of creating the best retirement community food in Macon. But it’s not that surprising, considering his grandmothers taught him how to cook.
“My mom’s family is Pennsylvania Dutch, so I learned real early how to grow my own produce and preserve food for the winter,” Lane explains. “And my other grandmother is from just east of Atlanta, which means I grew up frying catfish and picking fresh zucchini and jalapeños out of the garden for dinner.”
Now Lane’s bringing his rich cultural heritage—along with his grandmothers’ love for clean, simple cooking—to Carlyle Place. Let’s take a closer look at his culinary vision for our Macon senior living community.
Serving Up Extraordinary Senior Dining
Lane sees his role as more than just creating hearty, nutritious fare he’d be proud to serve at his own table. He also views mealtime as an opportunity to help seniors live life to the fullest. “I love doing something with my hands that makes folks smile or enjoy their day more,” he says. “If they walk away feeling like they’ve just dined in a fine restaurant, then I’ve done my job.”
A big part of creating an exceptional senior dining experience is finding out exactly what the folks at Carlyle Place want. And how does Lane do that? He asks! “Our dining team works hand-in-glove with the dining committee to address any feedback and bring new menu items to life,” he explains.
“One of my sayings is ‘here’s a favorite food you’ve never tried before,’” Lane laughs. “A lot of people, for example, expect meats like quail and rabbit to taste ‘gamey,’ but are surprised at how mild these meats can be when they’re prepared and seasoned.”
Another new menu item that’s becoming a Carlyle Place favorite is Guinness pancakes. “Instead of using water in the batter, I use Guinness lager,” Lane explains. “Then I top it off with whipped cream infused with Baileys Irish Cream and vanilla bean. Now that’s something to wake up to!”
Sometimes, though, the best new menu items are old favorites that evoke wonderful memories. “I heard from the dining committee that folks had a bit of nostalgia for fried chicken livers, so we served those for dinner one night,” Lane says. “You should have seen the looks on everyone’s faces. It was a huge hit!”
Promoting Physical Wellness for Seniors in a Delicious Way
Nutritional needs begin to change as folks age. To maintain physical wellness, seniors need healthy meals that are high in fiber and protein and low in sodium and sugar. But that doesn’t mean food has to be boring.
“It’s easier to serve something nutritious and tasty when you start with high-quality meat and fish paired with fresh vegetables,” Lane explains. “Choosing the finest basics lets me get creative with spice blends, which cuts down on the sugar, salt and butter.”
Lane also tries to offer lighter vegetarian options to balance out his menus. “One of my healthy specialties is a superfood salad packed with kale, Brussels sprouts, blackberries and quinoa. Butternut squash is great, too, because it has lots of natural sugars and pairs well with fish,” he says.
And now that fall is in the air, Lane is planning to include more duck on the menu. “Duck is rich and hearty, and is a super tasty alternative for folks who can no longer eat red meat,” he says. Bonus: According to WebMD, duck is rich in monounsaturated fat, which helps keep cholesterol levels down.
Sharing Good Food Helps Seniors Cultivate Social Wellness
For the folks at Carlyle Place, mealtime means more than just satisfying their appetites … it’s also a chance to mingle, tell stories and enjoy a few laughs. “Dinnertime is the big event of the day,” Lane says. “People get dressed up, just like they would if they were going to a fancy restaurant.”
Lane also believes that mixing with residents is key to creating an exceptional senior dining experience, so you’ll often see him socializing with people enjoying the gourmet dining venues in our Macon senior living community.
“In the restaurant business, you usually see the clientele only a few times per month,” he explains. “But in a senior living community like Carlyle Place, you can have six conversations with one person in just a few days. Some want to talk baseball, others give me ideas for entrees and many want to brag about their grandkids. A few even want to hear my stories about people and places in Pennsylvania.”
“Everyone’s been so welcoming, and they tell me how much they appreciate the freshness of my menus,” Lane says. We think his grandmothers would approve as well.
Discover Our Not-So-Secret Recipe for Living Your Best Life
Has all this talk about food made you hungry to learn more about our Macon senior living community? We’d love to chat with you further—and even treat you to an exceptional senior dining experience at one of our popular venues. To schedule your visit, call us today at 478-405-4500.
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