February News and Events
Southminster Makes Valentine’s Day Special
This month residents will enjoy the sounds of Strolling Violinist Martha Geissler while they dine on special Valentine’s Day cusine, including Bistro Medallions, North Carolina Mountain Trout with Tomato Jam, Smoked Pork Terrine with Cranberry Compote, and Chicken Pappardelle with Mushrooms and Peas. Decadent desserts will include Red Velvet Molten Cake and Tiramisu.
Prior to their special meal, many residents will meet in the Lounge for Happy Hour, which will feature three unique Valentine’s Day cocktails created by our in-house mixologist (and Dining Room Manager), Rudy Patino.
Other events happening on campus this month include:
Super Bowl Weekend Celebration – residents will watch the game together in the theater and lounge.
Valentine Card Workshop – Helen Patterson, a professional stationery designer from Stampin’ Up, will show us how to create fun and one-of-a-kind Valentines.
Presentation by Visiting Professor Dr. Brian Madison Jones – Dr. Jones, an Assistant Professor of History at Johnson C. Smith University, will present: President Eisenhower and America’s Nuclear Age.
Musical Performance by Tenor Todd Geer with piano accompaniment by Jonathan Crutchfield
Wine Tasting Class – Jonathan Klein will introduce a new Spring portfolio of wines.
Southminster Book Club – this month the group will discuss The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Moseley.
There will also be several off-campus trips this month, including:
Men’s Club Trip – the Men’s Club will discover some surprising wonders as they visit the Charlotte Observer’s top seven list of places to see in Charlotte. They will follow their excursion with lunch at their favorite restaurant.
Luski Glass Exhibit – residents will visit the Foundation for the Carolinas headquarters to view pieces from the collection of Sonia and Isaac Luski.
Lunch at Savannah’s Tea Room – we’ll step back in time and experience true Southern hospitality where we’ll dine on a unique selection of sandwiches, salads, quiche, scones, and more.
Princeton Tigertones Visit Southminster
The Princeton Tigertones, one of the professional male choirs from Princeton University, visited Southminster recently to entertain our residents. They travel all over the United States, as well as abroad, and it was an honor to have them perform for us.
Dining Services Update from Chef Kris Reid
Last year was a busy and exhilerating time for Dining Services at Southminster, and this year promises to be just as exciting! Last year we launched our community garden, which has yielded more than 400 pounds of fresh produce for us and the meal recipients at Friendship Trays. We celebrated our garden by hosting a dinner prepared with all local ingredients by our staff and Master Chef Edwin Scholly, who served as the Executive Chef of the West Wing in the White House for over 20 years!
At left, Chef Kris Reid, Master Chef Edwin Scholly, and Dining Services Director Salem Suber.
Last summer our culinary team competed against other CCRC’s in a local Chef Wars competition, and we took 1st Place with a dish that included ingredients from our garden.
Our kitchen has gone from processed to fresh foods and from standardized menus to seasonal menus that feature many regionally recognized dishes, such as Shrimp and Grits, Grilled NC Mountain Trout, and Hoppin John. We will continue to provide these fresh, innovative dishes this year, as well as unveil our new sustainable to-go containers, which will help remove styro-foam from our community.
