Meet Revera's Chefs

Alicia Briscoe, Westney Gardens Retirement Residence, Ajax, ON

Q: How long have you been cooking with Revera?

A: I have been cooking with Revera since March 2018

Q: How did you get interested in cooking?

A: I was born in Jamaica and came to Canada with my family in 1995. I studied Culinary Management and Italian Arts Culinary at George Brown College, and completed my apprenticeship in Italy.

After college, I worked in different restaurants ranging from franchise restaurants, family-owned restaurants and the CN Tower 360 restaurant.

My mother is a chef in the senior living sector and that is how I became interested in working with older adults. I have been working in the retirement sector for almost nine years now and it gives me great joy and a sense of accomplishment to see that I am able to showcase the skills I have gained over the years to create menus and cook healthy, nutritious and pleasing to the eye meals for our residents.

Q: What is it about cooking at Revera that you enjoy the most?

A: I enjoy cooking at Revera as you can be creative with the menu and I can create meals that are restaurant-style. At Westney Gardens, we have three dining concepts: restaurant, pub and bistro. Each dining area has a menu that caters to our residents’ wants and offers what you would find in a restaurant, pub and bistro.

Q: If you could work with any chef who would it be, and why?

A: If I could work with any chef it would be Chef David Rocco. He specializes in Italian cuisine and shows you how to prepare delicious, classic Italian food using fresh, seasonal ingredients and techniques that any home chef can master.

Just like Chef David Rocco, I’m able to work with fresh, seasonal ingredients and offer Italian dishes here at Westney Gardens.

Alicia Briscoe and her culinary team at Westney Gardens Retirement Residence in Ajax, Ontario.

The Westney Turkey Club. Serves: one person 

Ingredients:

2 slices of cranberry focaccia bread
1 slice cooked turkey breast
2 slices of cooked bacon
2 slices of tomato
1 lettuce leaf
4 slices of avocado
1 ½ tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp butter

Directions:

1. Spread butter on all sides of the focaccia then place the bread on a heated skillet to toast on all sides until golden. Remove from skillet and place on plate to assemble the sandwich.

2. Spread mayonnaise on one side of the focaccia and place the turkey on top. Add the bacon on top of the turkey.

3. Add the slices of avocado on the bacon, then place the tomato slices on top.

4. Finally, add the lettuce leaf and top it off with the other piece of the focaccia bread. Slice on an angle and serve with your favourite side, such as pickles.