10/12/2021
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐บ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐!
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ! was the sentiment of the day as the residents of Watercrest Winter Park celebrated Oktoberfest with traditional music, food, beer and more! The iconic sounds and smells of Germany enlivened the senses of attendees at the communityโs second annual Oktoberfest. Residents, families, and community partners feasted on a specially curated menu of authentic German dishes, beers and wines, while enjoying live polka music performed by one of their very own!
The newly opened Watercrest Senior Living Group community welcomed its first residents last year in the idyllic neighborhood of Winter Park. In their first 18 months of operation amid the hurdles of COVID-19, Watercrest Winter Park has continued to focus on their resident's physical & spiritual wellbeing with specialized social activities & signature programming designed to provide experiences to improve the quality of life for residents.
Celebrating seasonal affairs and crafting authentic destination dining events for residents just so happens to be a specialty of Executive Chef of Watercrest Winter Park, Nathan Shifflett, who was by all accounts, โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ป๐ฆ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ'! From designing the authentic menu to meal preparation, donning a traditional lederhosen while playing the accordion and singing German folks songs, Chef Nathan treated residents to a truly authentic culinary experience equally as entertaining as attending Germanyโs famed annual event. The son of German chef with four siblings, Chef Nathan grew up in the entertainment business but ultimately felt unfulfilled in his life endeavors. Taking a job as a chef in a senior community where his grandmother was a resident, it was then that Chef Nathan discovered his lifeโs passion.
โThere was nothing that made me happier or made me feel more fulfilled than creating meals, hosting events and entertaining residents,โ states Nathan. When reminiscing on his journey into senior living, Nathan says, โSeeing their smiles and tears of joy, and the amount of love I receive from our residents on a daily basis is something I knew I would never find working in restaurants.โ
Dressed in authentic German attire, the culinary team at Watercrest Winter Park served traditional German fair including Kartoffelsuppe โ German Potato Soup, German Pretzel freshly baked in their old-world artisan open-flame oven and served with Spicy Mustard and Beer Cheese Sauce, Weiner Schnitzel served with Lemon Butter Sauce, Grilled Bratwurst, Weisswurst and Knockwurst served with Apfelkraut โ an apple wine variety of sauerkraut, German Potato Salad, Potato Pancakes served with sour cream and applesauce, and an array of traditional vegetables including red cabbage. Finishing off with German Chocolate Cake and homemade Apple Strudel, residents delighted in what some would argue as the best part of the Oktoberfest celebration โ German Dunkel (a bottom-fermented dark lager style of beer), Warsteiner Pilsner Beer, and Rhine Valley Riesling Wine!
โEine tolle Ziet hatten alle!โ โ A fun time was had by all! Visit our website to learn more about Watercrest Winter Park:
watercrestseniorliving.com/winter-park
