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The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance and Splendido partner to promote the art of food with the creation of a three-part digital cooking series. The video series highlights the culinary arts at Splendido and the chefs that bring the wellness philosophy to life at the Oro Valley campus.
Featured recipes include summer-inspired light, fresh, and healthy recipes, including a Quinoa Salad with Roasted Salmon, Splendido Chilled Melon Soup, and a Mexican Hot Chocolate Ganache Tart.
SO MUCH MORE THAN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE |
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Just when you thought you had senior living communities all figured out, Splendido stands out from the crowd with an unbeatable combination of well-appointed homes, distinctive services, and a Life Care plan that is the only one of its kind in southern Arizona.
This award-winning Life Plan Community in Oro Valley provides residents 55 and better with a variety of educational, social, and cultural programs; resort-style amenities; and a continuum of care, if ever needed. Culinary offerings are as dynamic as the community itself. There’s an array of restaurants to satisfy nearly every craving, and all feature changing menu selections that incorporate the season’s freshest flavors. Splendido’s unwavering commitment to whole-person wellness carries through everything they do—from the food served to the programs offered. |
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CURATED CUISINE
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A focus on fresh, flavorful Ways to Age Well SM
Many of us watch our diet only when trying to lose weight or meet recommended levels of blood pressure or glucose—but it’s important to remember that making a healthy diet part of your lifestyle can boost all aspects of your health, from eyesight to stress management to reducing risk of multiple chronic diseases. That’s why Splendido incorporates fresh, healthful selections into its menus with a focus on the Mediterranean Diet that’s considered one of the healthiest eating plans you can choose. Researchers noticed decades ago that people living in countries that border the Mediterranean have reduced risk factors for coronary disease compared to people in the US and northern Europe. The reason: the traditional cuisines in the region. “The focus is on fresh produce, fresh ingredients, and whole grains,” says Masood Shirmohammadi, executive chef at Splendido. “And of course, olive oil is a key fat. We’re using all these ingredients at Splendido, where our main focus is on from-scratch cooking—that typically accounts for about 90% of what we do here.” The Mediterranean Diet includes lean proteins like fish rather than red meat; at Splendido, residents always have a red meat option for dinner, but Mediterranean-style entrees prevail. Chef Masood has been comfortable cooking Mediterranean-type dishes since he was a child: “When I think of the Mediterranean diet, Italy and Greece come to mind,” he says. “But I grew up in Iran, and our cuisine is similar to Greek; there are similar dishes in a number of cultures.” In his earlier career, Chef Masood earned accolades for his work in fine dining restaurants in Chicago, with signature bold flavors rooted in classical French cuisine. “We serve dishes like Chicken Provencal; we’ve done vegetable minestrone and gazpacho; we do a picatta-style veal—but we’re careful on the butter!” says Chef Masood. “When preparing meats, we concentrate on the technique and go lighter on the sauces and seasonings.” That includes techniques like grilling chicken with garlic or roasting fish with lemon—so dishes are very flavorful without adding a lot of salt or heavy sauces. Splendido rotates menu offerings frequently with a wide range of cuisines that even incorporate what residents have enjoyed cooking. “Our menus are constantly changing based on resident feedback,” says Chef Masood. “We’ve even asked them to share their own recipes with us, and we try to incorporate some of their favorite dishes.” |
“The focus is on fresh produce, fresh ingredients, and whole grains.”
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