Wellmore of Daniel Island's executive chef wins 'Battle of the Blades' culinary competition
Famed French chef, restaurateur, and culinary writer Auguste Escoffier once said that “Good food is the foundation to genuine happiness.” At Wellmore of Daniel Island, an upscale senior living community on Daniel Island, genuine happiness is found throughout their dining department, and this week their team has a lot to be happy about.
On July 27, Wellmore’s Executive Chef Pamela Ballard was awarded first place at The Battle of the Blades, a culinary competition hosted in Amelia Island, Florida. The competition pitted executive chefs from 15 retirement communities against one another, tasking them to create unique appetizers and entrees with special ingredients. Emcee for the evening, Chef Adam Sears, required teams to include pork belly and a starch (white beans, rice, polenta, granola, or lentils) in the appetizer, while swordfish and stone fruit (peaches, plums, or nectarines) were required for the entrée. Chef Ballard’s team was victorious, placing in the top spot in the competition.
“The competition was fierce, but the thing that stood out most to me was the caliber of chefs that are working in these communities” said Chef Ballard. “They’re taking retirement dining to a whole new level and pushing culinary boundaries.”
As a leader in the senior living industry, Wellmore strives to make each dining experience unique. Their culinary team is continually exploring new recipes, experimenting with ways to revamp classic dishes and developing new techniques both in the kitchen and on the plate. “Sitting down for a meal with family and friends is such a heartwarming time,” said Wellmore’s Executive Director Jimmy Justice. “We are proud to provide an exceptional dining program where our members and their families can connect over food and drinks. They don’t have to eat in our restaurant, but they want to when they know that Chef Ballard is continually creating new dishes and putting a spin on their favorites.”
Wellmore of Daniel Island is a five-time Argentum award winning senior living community located at 580 Robert Daniel Drive. To learn more about Wellmore of Daniel, call (843) 566-1000 or visit www.well-more.com/charleston.