"Ultimate Chef America" title to be held during the 2010 Ultimate Chef America tour

Jan 9 2010

The Dining Services professionals of Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD), one of the largest owners and operators of senior living communities, will entertain and showcase talent during the competitions. Well-known and award-winning, Brookdale's Dining Services delivers distinctive, memorable dining experiences in all of its communities.

During each Ultimate Chef event, two teams of four Dining Services staff members will compete during a two-hour cooking competition focusing on healthy cooking for seniors. The first event will be held in Phoenix on Jan. 28, 2010.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the creativity, ability, and talent of our Dining Services associates will be showcased during this unique competition," said Joska J. W. Hajdu, senior vice president of dining services for Brookdale Senior Living, and also an Executive Chef by trade. "Our chefs are masters at creating traditional, heart-healthy meals, and this competition will stretch their creative talents further than ever."

Attendees to Ultimate Chef America will be able to join in the event by gaining a close-up look at the competitors and the fast-paced competition. In addition, Brookdale has partnered with several national sponsors to be included in a vendor expo. Attendees will be able to participate in various educational programs, including a seminar featuring Brookdale's Medical Director, Dr. Kevin O'Neil, on the topic of "Food for the Soul," a wine program, "The Brookdale Wine Club," and a class about using fresh herbs and seasonings, "The Art of Seasoning."

The event will also feature a gourmet food tasting where participants will receive a taste sampling of the recipes prepared in the competition. Community tours will also be available.

Food inspired art created by residents of Brookdale Senior Living communities across the nation will be auctioned off at the Ultimate Chef America events. Proceeds of this auction will go to the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, an organization which elevates the national consciousness of caregiving and fosters a culture of healthy caregivers impacted by chronic illness through programming, universal access to resources, and behavioral research.