Sedgebrook’s Executive Chef, Kira Eggert, has received the coveted LCS “Chef of the Year 2023” title after battling through a three-round, “Chopped-style” cook-off August 3 at the Sysco Test Kitchens in Houston, Texas. In addition to earning the 2023 LCS Chef of the Year title, Chef Eggert will receive a $10,000 grand prize.
As one of the five finalists, Chef Eggert came out on top with a winning dish using mystery basket ingredients including head-on prawns, white corn, green garlic, chanterelle mushrooms, a whole coconut, and celeriac root. This year’s event featured celebrity chef Christian Gill, who rose to culinary fame for his numerous executive chef roles and culinary competitions, including a victory on “Beat Bobby Flay.”
“It was such an honor to have chef Christian Gill as the culinary judge and hear only great feedback on the dishes I prepared,” Eggert said. “This award and title mean so much to not only me but also this wonderful community of residents that we serve every day. We’re changing people’s mindsets of what senior living dining looks and tastes like. I look forward to keeping this momentum going.”
The annual competition celebrates the hospitality and culinary talents of chefs who work in senior living communities owned and managed by Life Care Services, An LCS Company. Sedgebrook hosted a live watch of the event for residents and staff to support Chef Eggert in the competition.
Chef Eggert has been in the senior living industry for more than 20 years. She graduated from the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary program and worked in the hotel hospitality industry early in her career.
“Having Chef Kira recognized by LCS as Chef of the Year is an affirmation of Sedgebrook’s commitment to delivering an unsurpassed level of attention, care and service to our residents and their families,” said Mark Golliday, Executive Director of Sedgebrook. “Our mission is to redefine the concept of senior living by creating environments that contribute to our residents’ wellness, which includes offering an exceptional culinary experience.”
