Every Menu Has a Story

Every Menu

HAS A STORY

by Kathryn Wiley, Marsh’s Edge Director of Communications Marsh’s Edge, a premier continuing care retirement community on St. Simons Island, has found a unique way to celebrate their members’ legacies and build connections through a new dining program called “Every Menu Has a Story.” The program is a collection of distinctive monthly dining experiences with menus that are designed to pay homage to a curated selection of life stories submitted by

All of the servers, including Jojie Moleta-Deloach, dressed as train porters and engineers to recreate the locomotion themed restaurant. In back, Cathy and Dick Wilton sit at a private table much like the night he proposed.

members. Director of Dining Services Chris Campbell describes it as “an edible encyclopedia of the human experience.”

Each month, members share their stories and experiences as they pertain to a given theme. Then, Executive Chef Geoffrey Gable will choose a story that inspires him to create a culinary event. By creating tasting notes, he will interpret the story into a menu. The process culminates in an event celebrating the month’s story through the inspired menu. While the retirement community is dedicated to providing restaurant-quality dining with

the freshest ingredients each day, this new program allows Gable and his team to push the dining envelope.

“Every Menu Has a Story gives me the freedom to create new dishes and serve foods that our members have never tried,” said Gable. “Since each event is based off my interpretation of the story, it is almost like having a blank canvas where I can paint my culinary masterpiece.” A description of the most recent event at Marsh’s Edge, where love met locomotion, should give you a better idea of how the concept works in action.

Dick and Cathy Wilton’s love story began at a popular train-themed restaurant in Peoria, IL. For the Every Menu Has a Story event, which was entitled “Coupled Together,” the Sidney Lanier Dining Room transformed into an old timey boxcar. Even the staff got in on the action by dressing as porters and train engineers. To keep up with the trendy feel of the train restaurant, Gable was inspired to

create a farm fresh salad course that included a Baker Farms’ baby mustard greens topped with pickled red onion, charred tiny tomatoes and roasted tomato vinaigrette.

The train restaurant will always be special to the Wiltons, as it is where they had their first date and where Dick proposed with a ring. He had proposed previously but never with a ring. On the night of the proposal, Cathy (continues)

A farm fresh inspired salad course included Baker Farms’ baby mustard greens topped with pickled red onion, charred tiny tomatoes and roasted tomato vinaigrette. Below: Hand cut chateaubriand topped in a red wine demi-glace and served with julienne spring vegetables and miniature greens.

was completely surprised when the waiter removed the silver lid from plate and revealed a black ring box on top of her chateaubriand. It should come as no shock that she said yes. Gable sought to recreate the environment of the proposal with the entrée course by serving hand cut chateaubriand that was topped in a red wine demi-glace and served with julienne spring vegetables and miniature greens. For dessert, Gable wanted to capture the feel of the Wilton’s 50-year relationship and make something that was sweet, timeless and rich. In listening to the members following the event, Gable succeeded in that task with the white chocolate mousse topped with dark chocolate shavings that he served.

“The event surpassed our expectations,” continued Gable. “It was a joy to see the conversations and laughter throughout the evening. All of our members have stories to share and it will be a true joy to honor their legacies.”

Marsh’s Edge is a Premier Independent Senior Living Retirement Community on St. Simons Island. Members who live at Marsh’s Edge enjoy an affordable lifestyle with amenities that promote healthy aging and active living. With a full service, on-site Wellness Center and nationally recognized, award-winning wellness program, Marsh’s Edge is the preferred choice for people who want to live long, live well and live independently. Call today for a tour at 912.324.3028 or visit Marshs-Edge. com to find out how you can begin a maintenance free lifestyle and enjoy events like the “Every Menu Has A Story” dinner.

THE BEST PRIVATE CLUB VALUE IN THE SOUTHEAST!

www.brunswickcountryclub.com

Contact: Dan Hogan at 912-264-4377 ext. 5