Creativity, competition and scratch-made flavor took center stage as Morning Pointe Senior Living hosted its first-ever Top Chef Challenge Finals at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga at Shallowford Assisted Living.

After an exciting evening of live culinary competition, Brittany Brown, food service director at Morning Pointe at Happy Valley Assisted Living in North Georgia/Tennessee Valley, earned the title of inaugural Morning Pointe Senior Living Top Chef Champion, along with the $500 grand prize for her winning dish, Pan-Seared Salmon Florentine.

The finals brought together top regional food service director finalists from across Morning Pointe Senior Living communities to showcase the passion, creativity and dedication they bring to resident dining experiences every day.

Food Service Director finalists included:

- Kevin Horner, Morning Pointe of Lexington Assisted Living, Kentucky Region;

- Brandon Turner, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Hardin Valley, East Tennessee Region;

- Caletta Alsup, Morning Pointe of Brentwood Assisted Living & Memory Care, Middle Tennessee Region; and

- Brittany Brown, Morning Pointe at Happy Valley Assisted Living, North Georgia/Tennessee Valley Region.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and samples of the competing dishes, while residents, associates, families and community members gathered to cheer on the finalists during the live event.

The Morning Pointe Senior Living Top Chef Challenge is a multi-round culinary competition designed to celebrate the creativity, skill and heart behind the organization’s dining teams.

Finalists advanced to the championship after winning regional rounds across the company. Throughout the competition, dishes were evaluated on taste and texture, presentation and creativity, nutrition and balance, resident appeal and overall execution.

“This competition was about more than creating a great dish,” said Justin Leiter, director of Dining Operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living. “It highlighted the passion, creativity and dedication our food service directors bring to residents every single day. Dining is such an important part of the experience in our communities, and it was exciting to see our teams showcase both their talent and the heart behind what they do.”

Ms. Brown said she was both surprised and honored to win the company’s inaugural championship title.

“I still can’t believe I won,” Ms. Brown said. “It was such an exciting event, and I’m just so thankful to be part of it. I truly love our residents and care deeply about their dining experience every day. Scratch cooking is such an important part of what we do at Morning Pointe Senior Living, and it means a lot to be able to create meals that bring comfort and joy to the people we serve.”

The finalists prepared their dishes in front of an accomplished panel of judges that included:

- Marcus Garner, chef and co-owner of Wine Down Neighborhood Bistro;

- Chef Cornelius Lathan, owner and executive chef of The Bistro; and

- Darin Grohs, director of Culinary Operations for Vision Hospitality Group.

"More than a competition, the event offered residents, families and community members a closer look at the scratch cooking, hospitality and meaningful dining experiences that are part of daily life at Morning Pointe Senior Living communities," officials said. 

To learn more about dining and life at Morning Pointe Senior Living, visit https://bit.ly/morningpointedining.