Chef Matt’s 10 Years at Summit Ridge Shape Award-Winning Dining

Chef Matt knows which dishes residents request, which substitutions they need and how a meal, done right, can change the course of someone’s day. That kind of knowledge isn’t built during a single service. It comes from years of listening.

Since joining the Atria Summit Ridge waitstaff in 2016, Matt has worked as a cook and now serves as Director of Culinary Services. Along the way, he has gotten to know residents, their families and many of the same colleagues.

His resident-focused leadership recently earned him Atria’s FLAME Award, which recognizes culinary excellence across Atria communities. For residents, the larger payoff is consistency: a culinary leader attuned to their preferences, who listens to their feedback and understands what helps them feel at home.

What makes dining at Atria Summit Ridge unique?

For Matt, providing the right meals starts with knowing the people who will enjoy them. “I enjoy the atmosphere of working in senior living. I love getting to know and helping the residents here in the building. Being able to serve them gives me a great sense of fulfillment,” he says.

That connection helps Matt and his team adapt dishes to residents’ tastes and preferences. “Our kitchen prepares everything from Italian to Mediterranean to Greek. But we know our residents really enjoy a lot of continental cuisine. They really love hearty, meat-and-potatoes kinds of meals, so we provide that type of dish often.”

Residents also suggest favorite recipes and special requests. Because Matt has spent years listening to them, he understands not only what they enjoy, but also why familiar foods can matter.

“A good comfort food can really change your outlook for the day,” Matt explains. “You come down for a good meal, you’re taken care of and you get exactly what you want and need.”

How does Atria personalize meals for residents?

Matt believes great hospitality starts with listening. “When we have new residents who are just moving in, I like to meet with them individually. We get to have conversations about their meal preferences. That allows me to give them what they need to feel at home.”

Those conversations also help his team understand dietary needs and offer alternatives while preserving variety and enjoyment.

• Learning residents’ favorite meals and ingredients
• Planning alternatives around dietary restrictions and allergies
• Offering menu suggestions that support individual wellness goals
• Adjusting recipes to reflect local tastes and resident feedback

“I love personalizing the menu as much as we can,” Matt says. He may also suggest options for residents who want to reduce sugar or salt or who have other dietary goals.

Why does staff tenure matter in senior living dining?

One of the biggest differences between senior living and a traditional restaurant is the opportunity to build lasting relationships. Matt serves the same residents every day, gets to know their families and hears their feedback firsthand.

“I’ll sit down and have meals with the residents,” he explains. “I get to hear from them about their experiences and get to know them even better.”

Over time, those everyday conversations build knowledge that can’t be captured on a preference sheet alone. Residents don’t have to start over with someone new each time they make a request. Matt and his longtime colleagues know the people they serve and can recognize when a favorite meal, a thoughtful substitution or a few minutes of conversation might make a difference.

For families comparing senior living communities, staff tenure is worth asking about. See what else to consider when comparing senior living options.

What does the FLAME Award recognize?

When Matt learned he had received the FLAME Award, he was surprised. “I was just blown away,” he recalls.

For him, the award represents steady, high-quality work over time rather than any single accomplishment. “This is my job. My job is to help our community members feel at home, because they are at home. We work hard to make sure they are satisfied every day. This is what we do.”

While the award recognizes Matt’s culinary leadership, he is quick to credit the people around him. “My team in the kitchen is fantastic,” he says. “One person can’t do it alone, and I have amazing support here.”

Many of those relationships have also been built over years. That continuity lets the team work together, respond to residents and deliver a dining experience shaped by genuine familiarity.

A community built around you

At Atria Summit Ridge, Matt’s award-winning dining is one part of daily life in an independent and assisted living community designed around residents’ preferences, needs and routines.

Explore Atria Summit Ridge to learn more about senior living in Reno and schedule a visit.