Tips from Trestle: The Senior Living Food and Hospitality Podcast

It's more than a feeling...that's how the Boston tune goes.  And it's how this episode of TFT went, as I connected with Matt Perez to talk about hospitality as a strategic value, and what that actually means when you have to sell the vision to both the C-Suite and the front line. Matt and I bonded over a shared passion for what a great hospitality strategy can do for a senior living operator,...

In today's landscape of social media influencers, how is someone supposed to set themselves apart? And why would a full-time employee even need a personal brand? A personal brand is not just for executives, it's for everyone . In this episode of Tips from Trestle, we sit down with Michelle B Griffin, The Brand Therapist℠ to discuss the value of personal branding and how it can set you apart on pla...

Are you ready to spice up your community's dining experience? This TFT has the technological ingredients & recipe for success for senior living dining operations! In the fast-paced world of senior living food and hospitality, technology is quickly becoming a critical component for success. In this episode of Tips from Trestle, we speak with Matt Stenerson, Co-Founder and CEO at eMenuCHOICE POS...

What if I told you that your Sales and F&B teams could be as great together as peanut butter and jelly? In the senior living industry, it's not enough to just sell a room or a meal - it's about selling the entire experience. In this episode of Tips from Trestle, Aaron visits with Julie Podewitz of Grow Your Occupancy to explore the importance of creating a seamless and exceptional experience f...

Motivation. Mindset. Momentum. All words we use to describe creating a success in any endeavor. Do you and your teams Aspire for More of this in your everyday operations? In this episode, we visit with Erin Thompson, a seasoned executive director with 20 years of experience in the senior living industry, specializing in assisted living and memory care. Erin's passion for serving residents and thei...

Serving seniors & open to the public? Buckle up for a culinary collaboration that breaks the mold, as we explore how the expertise of a James Beard award winner and a forward thinking senior living operator is bringing the public inside of their unique restaurant concept. In this episode of TFT, we delve into the unique partnership between MedCore Partners and Stephan Pyles, the "founding fath...

What is the secret to creating a menu featuring Italy's healthiest secrets? Join us as we discover the beauty of the Mediterranean Diet and explore the traditional methods and key ingredients that make this diet so beloved. In this episode, we welcome Amanda Goldman, a registered dietitian who took a trip to Italy to explore the Mediterranean diet and bring back its "secrets" to the non-commercial...

Ready to unlock new opportunities and advance your career in senior living? This episode of "Tips From Trestle" explores the "Full Spectrum" of senior living recruitment and will help you uncover the secrets to success in getting to the next level in your senior living journey. Aaron sat down with Katie Churchill, a leading expert in senior living recruitment to discover the keys to unlocking new...

It's a Food Network staple - Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. . But how did it start, and what does it have to do with our experiences with food in senior living? Get ready for a captivating season premiere episode of Tips From Trestle where Aaron sits down with two-time Emmy winner David Page , the mastermind behind the hit food show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He shares his journey, secrets behind...

Senior living food service is a unique operation. It's not exactly a restaurant or country club, but it's also not healthcare. It is a delicate blend of managing both while balancing the vision of full-service hospitality in the homes of our residents. And as dedicated professionals in this immense sector, we know that our professional networks are invaluable to our growth, development, and even o...

Mental health is hard to talk about in any setting. But especially in the hospitality industry. In a recent survey of 1273 hospitality professionals, 8 out of 10 respondents had experienced mental health issues during their career and 46% would not feel comfortable talk about their health concerns with their colleagues. So how do we address this looming crisis? Enter the The Burnt Chef Project. La...

The senior living industry is set for expansive growth in the coming years to meet market demand. But with these great opportunities will come new barriers to capitalizing on them. Especially the barrier of labor. So how do we tackle the ongoing labor challenges? What is the right combination of tools & actions needed to overcome these obstacles? This episode of TFT Aaron tries to sort through...

Do you wish you knew how to build up your team in this post-pandemic environment? Could you use creative ways to elevate mindsets about senior living? Are you ready for tips to better understand mental health and reduce burnout? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then this episode of Tips from Trestle is for you! Aaron caught up with Kathy Parry for this episode of TFT to talk about...

Cultivating and educating the next generation of the hospitality workforce about the benefits and unique opportunities in senior living is something that I truly enjoy and embrace as a responsibility. We have to show the next generation of hospitality leaders that they can and should find their calling in the senior living industry - the only place where they can truly provide #HospitalityWithAPur...

152 Million People. That's the expected number of people around the world that will be experiencing some form of dementia by 2050. A number that will have tripled from current figures in only a couple of decades. So how will we support them, especially with one of the most important activities of daily living - eating? The good news is that there are great resources and experts that can help with...

We all know that we need all of our senses to experience a great meal. Seeing perfect grill marks on a steak, having the smell of garlic & onions hitting you as you walk by an open kitchen, or hearing the sizzle of fajitas as they come to your table - these all enhanced and elevate our dining experience. But what about everything around you that isn‘t on the plate? The atmosphere and ambiance...

"That place is TOXIC - don't work there!" If you've been around the hospitality industry, you've heard this before. But the best kitchens with the best culture will be the ones that do culture the right way. That's what I talk with Andrew Moret about on this week's TFT podcast. Andrew has worked in those toxic kitchens, and has seen what it can do to team morale and performance. He has also seen i...

So it's 5:30, and you have just finished watching the evening news, and you decide that you want to catch up with the latest happenings with your neighbors today. So you head down to the kitchen, where there are people talking and laughing, and giving Chef Joe pointers on the best way to make tonight's meal. You sit down at the counter and chat with everyone as chef puts the final touches on your...

Hire wisely, and onboard & train RELENTLESSLY. This is a motto that host Aaron Fish has used throughout his career to create successful teams that will outperform. And what better way is there than working with the experts and creating your own masterclass to help develop, grow, and retain your best employees?  On this episode of TFT, Aaron talks with Greg Gorgone of Pineapple Academy. Th...

When evaluating your technology needs, many operators tend to overlook their kitchen operations. They will implement a point of sale system for better meal tracking, but typically the tech stops there. But what if it didn't? What would the impact be if you created a digital kitchen? This episode of Tips from Trestle, Aaron visits with Connor Joffe of QSR Automations on the technologies that are av...

If you're looking to have a chat with John Herzog about the foodservice industry, it probably wouldn't hurt to start your search in the dish pit. Why? Because not only is there a calming and rewarding aspect to seeing that job through, it's also a great place to start when wanting to win over the F&B team in any operation. Plus there is a lot to learn as an outsider when you set up shop on the...

Ever heard of this head football coach named Tony Dungy? Of course you have, and he's known for his ability not only to win football games, but to be a quiet and effective leader in AND out of the locker room. And on this week's Tips from Trestle, I got the chance to speak with the co-author of his biography and leadership expert, Nathan Whitaker. I get some amazing backstory on Nathan’s time work...

Creating connection is a key aspect of what we do in senior living. But how do we bridge the gap between generations in a way that allows the newest participants in the workforce get a glimpse of how great working in our industry can be? And how can these connections allow for seniors in these communities to continue to feel they have a purpose and can pass along their knowledge and wisdom to a yo...

They say that "necessity is the mother of invention", and this week's Tips From Trestle is very much a story of this being true. This week we visit with Sasha Dawn. During the peak of COVID-19 quarantines in 2020, she experienced what many adult children did - isolation from her parent in care. Her father had fallen and been placed in a skilled nursing facility on the other side of the country. An...

The surge of technology needs and vendors in the senior living space has taken off in the past couple of years as operators have been forced to adopt more due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many solutions to every aspect of a communities operations, but what processes do they use to evaluate if they will be getting the functionality, service, and support from their vendor of choice? Enter Kat...