Summary
Director of Culinary Services Christopher Fiori shapes dining around the people who live at Atria El Camino Gardens, from serving resident-inspired recipes to sitting down at meals for feedback. His dedication to residents recently earned him a regional FLAME Award.
Ask Director of Culinary Services Christopher Fiori what keeps him going at Atria El Camino Gardens and he answers without hesitation.
“I do what I do for the residents,” he says, “and I love what I do.”
Everything about the way Christopher runs his kitchen backs it up.
He knows nearly all 230 residents by name. He often sits and eats with them to make sure the food is just right. He keeps a suggestion box in the dining room and has turned resident recipes into community-wide menu items.
This year, he was recognized for his dedication with a regional FLAME Award, one of Atria’s highest culinary honors.
What makes the food at Atria Senior Living communities special?
In short, a dedication to food as care.
Chef Christopher has been cooking since age 17 and spent time as a hands-on caregiver before joining Atria. This combination of life experiences gives him both technical skill and genuine empathy.
At Atria El Camino Gardens, which offers independent living, assisted living and memory care, that approach shapes the dining experience each day.
He hosts a monthly Food for Thought meeting where residents share culinary feedback and requests. While he jokes that “Some chefs dread those days,” Christopher genuinely looks forward to them.
“I love hearing from our residents,” he says. “It’s so fulfilling to be able to provide food that I know they’ll love.”
Some residents have even suggested recipes or dishes. When that happens, Chef Christopher puts them on the menu and prints them with the resident’s name attached.
“The menu will let everyone know who suggested the meal,” he explains. “That person will often get compliments from other residents as well.”
It’s the kind of detail that helps turn a dining room into a thriving community.
Does Atria serve restaurant-quality meals?
Absolutely. Chef Christopher has spent years fine-tuning the menu to his residents’ tastes. Pot roast, salmon and chicken alfredo are staples.
But he also knows when to expand into new culinary territory.
His seafood fettuccine in a white wine béchamel with mussels, clams and shrimp was novel for some residents.
“They loved it after we put that in for the first time,” he says, “and we’ve kept it ever since.”
Throughout the year, residents enjoy:
- Monthly menus shaped by community preferences and dietary needs
- Holiday buffets for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more
- New Year’s dinners with filet mignon and lobster
Chef Christopher also hosts outdoor charcoal grill events and casual café-style meals when the weather is right.
What is the FLAME Award and why does it matter?
Atria’s FLAME Award recognizes chefs for culinary excellence and dedication to residents. It’s an honor for chefs who go above and beyond for their communities.
Chef Christopher learned he’d won when his regional director called him in for a meeting with no explanation.
“I was a little confused, since he didn’t explain the purpose of the appointment,” Christopher chuckles. “I met him, and he had all the regional chefs on a call. He announced that I’d be receiving the award, and it was a surprise.”
Christopher is quick to share the credit.
“The residents are a huge part of it,” he says. “They give a lot of praise and a lot of compliments. They’re so kind, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
Discover senior living at Atria El Camino Gardens
Here, the person cooking residents’ meals knows their names, remembers their favorites and listens carefully to feedback.
If you’re exploring senior living in the Sacramento, California area, come visit Atria El Camino Gardens and taste the difference for yourself.
You might also like
Want to learn more about life at Atria Senior Living?
