Summary
Dining is a big part of daily life in senior living. This story follows Chef James McAndrew at Holiday Niagara Village and shows how meals are prepared, shared and shaped by residents. It offers a simple look at what families can expect day to day.
At Holiday Niagara Village in Erie, PA, the kitchen typically smells of freshly baked bread. That delicious scent is evidence of the work of Executive Chef James McAndrew. He has been rolling out homemade dinner rolls from scratch every single day for residents there.
That level of care and culinary commitment just earned him Atria’s prestigious FLAME Award.
For families exploring senior living, dining is often one of the first questions that comes up. People wonder what meals will be like and if they will feel familiar day to day. Chef James’s work offers a closer look at that experience at Holiday Niagara Village.
How chefs find their way to senior living
James didn’t always work in senior living. About 25 years ago, a chef he’d worked for in the restaurant industry made the move to a healthcare facility. James decided to follow his mentor into this new territory. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect at first,” he admits. “But I got there and really enjoyed it.”
He’s been in the field ever since, working at several facilities across Pennsylvania over a 30-year career. Though Chef James began in the industry by following a mentor, senior care has become a genuine calling for him. Today, he describes his role at Holiday Niagara Village with pride. “You need a passion for culinary work to be an Executive Chef in senior living. And I have a deep passion for serving in this community.”
What meals are like in senior living each day
Senior living communities often offer more meals than people realize. Chef James runs the entire back of house at Holiday Niagara Village, from overseeing innovations in the menu to managing a team of cooks and a sous chef, along with monitoring freshness of ingredients and food sourcing.
He describes it simply: “It’s like catering a wedding every day.” Serving over 100 residents across multiple meal options requires the kind of organized creativity that takes years to develop.
On any given day, Chef James’s kitchen at Holiday Niagara Village produces:
- Homemade soups made with the innovative flavors Chef James loves
- Fresh bread and dinner rolls, proofed and baked in house every morning
- Proteins cut and portioned in house, including pork chops from loins, chicken dishes and fresh salmon fileted on site
- Seasonal menus that shift with Erie’s four seasons, from hearty winter stews to lighter summer salads
Chef James sources foods locally wherever he can. Freshness and flavor are key to his approach.
What makes dining feel personal in senior living
Chef James holds a monthly meeting to connect with residents in the community. In these meetings, James reviews the prior month, listens to feedback and takes requests. If someone mentions they’d like stuffed peppers, for instance, it’s on the menu within the week.
But the most important moments go beyond menu planning. He recalls a resident who asked if he could make his family’s meatball recipe for the community. James set him up with all the ingredients and a proper workstation. The resident made the meatballs and sauce his way and served it proudly.
“I put it on the menu with his name,” Chef James remembers. “It was an old-school recipe, homemade meatballs and sauce. He walked around that whole day feeling good. And those moments make me feel good, too. Those human experiences keep me passionate about the work.”
These kinds of moments help show how dining can feel personal and familiar.
What the FLAME Award means for residents and families
James found out he’d won the FLAME Award on a company call. When his name was announced, his first thought wasn’t about himself.
“I think this award is a wonderful recognition of what our whole team does here, not just me,” he says with humility. “It’s our culinary staff being honored for what we do in the kitchen. I want this to let residents and their families know how good our community is.”
The FLAME Award honors exceptional culinary leaders across Atria’s many senior living communities. For James, who earned very high marks in resident satisfaction surveys, the recognition validates his simple philosophy: Put passion into your work, and the people you’re cooking for will feel it.
A closer look at daily life
Chef James’s story offers a glimpse of what life can feel like in a senior living community. His work is built on craft, consistency and genuine connections with residents. For families exploring their options, those details come through in everyday meals and moments.
If you’re exploring senior living in Erie, you can visit Holiday Niagara Village to see that experience firsthand.
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