Culinary Services

Summers are warm here in Northeast Ohio and we are very thankful for that at Altenheim Senior Living. Summer weather allows us to begin to harvest vegetables from our on-campus garden. These vegetables may include cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, lettuce, eggplant, okra, radishes and a variety of tomatoes and herbs.

Using these vegetables, our dietary team cooks delicious meals for our residents. Amazing dishes created include a yellow squash and chicken casserole, and a pesto sauce made from the basil that we grew for a shrimp and penne pasta dish. One of our dietary staff members, Marilyn, created a fresh and colorful garden salad using the garden’s tomatoes and cucumbers! Justin, another member of the dietary team, used cilantro from the garden to make a pineapple cilantro salsa that topped a Wednesday evening Mahi Mahi dish.

Although making delicious meals takes the effort of the entire dietary team, Diane McCluskey, Director of Culinary Services explains that one person in particular deserves credit for the plentiful garden: Shana Qirjazi. Shana, an immigrant from Albania, is a great cook whom we have been lucky to have for over 15 years. Shana is the lead gardener and an important reason for the garden’s success.

There is nothing more delicious than fresh food from one’s own garden! We are all excited to try more creative and colorful dishes.