Career Blog

We are excited to recognize our dedicated Culinary Directors! At Northbridge, we have some of the best and most creative Culinary Directors  who cultivate an amazing dining experience that delights our residents. In addition to healthy and flavorful chef curated menus, Culinary Directors work with local farms and vendors to ensure our residents eat fresh and local- check out our Eat Fresh, Eat Local signature program, and enjoy all the seasonal flavors New England has to offer.  Meet a few of our amazing and dedicated Culinary Directors!

Culinary Director: Beau Marchitelli
Community: Stroudwater Lodge

1. What first made you interested in working in Senior Living?
   I first became interested a few years after meeting my wife. At the time, she was an RN working for a different senior living company in Massachusetts. She would constantly complain about dining services and their inadequacies. Having been a chef and then full operations manager, I would often consider how I would fix her issues. Later, after 28 years in hospitality, I thought it would be nice to try something different, and hopefully obtain a better work life balance.
2. How long have you been working in Senior Living and what was your first job in this field?
   I have only been working in senior living since I joined the Northbridge family this past January.
3. What is your favorite part about working in Senior Living?
   My favorite part about working in senior living is of course the residents. Working in a restaurant or hotel, you are constrained by consistency, and the fact you only get one shot at making somebody’s experience great. Here, you can do whatever you want, making changes based on what people living here enjoy. It’s a nice difference.
4. What is one thing you wish everyone new about being a Culinary Director?
   One value I hold high that people may not think of is that it IS NOT all about the food. Yes, it is important, but equally important is the service surrounding that food. I focus as much on the front of the house as I do in the back. Imagine having your favorite meal in front of you but your glass is empty, and you dropped your fork by accident. Unless someone comes fast to rectify, your meal would be ruined. Without proper service, the dining experience will fall short.
5. What is one piece of advice you would share with someone thinking of starting a career in Senior Living?
   Research the companies. I spent almost 3 years making the decision to enter senior living. In that time, I looked at a lot of companies and found many I would never want to work for. There were of course some great ones, and Northbridge was at the top of my list.
6. What keeps you invested in the field?
   So far it has been about pushing the boundaries and providing the residents with new experiences.
7. What is your favorite part about your job?
   Working with the staff. Most people say they like teamwork, but it really is the foundation of how I operate. Creating a culture where people are supporting and helping each other, not because they are supposed to, but because they want to.
8. What is the best part about working at Northbridge?
   Again, it’s the people. I am very fond of the associates and other directors who work at Stroudwater Lodge. I also like Northbridge’s unique approach to its culinary program. It is what drew me to the company to begin with.
9. What is your favorite meal to cook OR what is a favorite recipe that residents enjoy?
   Always a tough question. I don’t really have a favorite, but one of my oldest recipes that still gets people excited is my anisette cream. It’s similar to an anise cream, but using the anisette liquor adds some sweetness and a stronger flavor. It’s best used in a seafood casserole, with either haddock, shrimp, scallops or a combination of them all. Baked in this anisette cream and topped with bread crumbs, most people will ask you for the recipe.  It’s also good as a topping for salmon.

Want to try out Chef Beau’s anisette cream? Click here for the recipe complete with ingredients and instructions!

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