Superior food, distinctive ‘restaurants’ make dining at Grand Living a daily special event

July 23, 2018

This paid piece is presented by Grand Living at Lake Lorraine.

Grand Living at Lake Lorraine is redefining dining in senior living, and a well-known Sioux Falls chef is helping lead the way.

Chef John Gilbertson spent 11 years as the executive chef at Sanford USD Medical Center and previously worked at the Sioux Falls Sheraton. He has a French culinary degree from Hotel Sofitel and worked for the company for 15 years.

But once he learned about the one-of-a-kind dining at Grand Living, he had to experience it for himself.

What attracted you to the opportunity at Grand Living?

I’m in love with the idea of visiting with the people for whom I cook. I love that everything here is made from scratch, all the stocks and broths, salad dressings and vegetables. That comes from the top down and is very clearly defined, and nobody else is doing that. I never thought I’d find this job in Sioux Falls. I just feel like I won the culinary lottery.

How would you describe the dining experience there?

The dining experience is superior in quality and personal in nature. We offer three distinct restaurants. That’s what drew me here. Guests order from a menu that changes daily with chef selections and several fresh fish flown in, organic and seasonal vegetables every day. We also do our best to accommodate special requests.

Tell us a little about the unique dining rooms at Grand Living.

The Lakeview serves dinner only and has the feel of a grand hotel or beautiful country club. This might be the most beautiful dining venue anywhere in Sioux Falls. We have elevated the standard of dining beyond most restaurants. I had to come here to see it when I learned about it. Fireside Dining is off The Lakeview and has been great for families to use for small receptions and gatherings.

Cafe Lorraine is open for breakfast and lunch. It feels like a really nice club. The setting is very elegant. The service is very personal and friendly. They’re just impeccable – friendly and professional. The Sterling Touch approach to customer service drives all of that for us.

The Bistro is casual dining. It’s open for breakfast and lunch every day and serves breakfast foods, grilled items, salads, soups and sandwiches.

Guests can take their food to go, or we’ll deliver to the room also.  We offer room service from any of our dining venues.

What are some of the favorite menu items?

Some guests love the fancy options, and others constantly request the meals they grew up with. We’re balancing homespun selections with fine dining and trying to have all those choices. Sometimes, you just want grilled cheese and tomato soup. Food is the most important part of everybody’s day here, without a doubt, so we’re striving to meet and exceed their expectations constantly.

What new ideas and approaches do you see yourself bringing to dining at Grand Living?

I love to talk about food. And I landed with 200 people who make food a big part of their day, so it’s a very good match. I love learning about people’s food preferences and food memories. Those are very important to all of us. We’ve already talked a lot about goulash.

I see my vision as Midwestern food culture meets fine dining. As long as we follow Grand Living’s standards of using fresh ingredients very well prepared, there’s a lot of room for creativity.

We also put on outstanding holiday meals really geared toward families and inclusiveness. We did a July 4 buffet with watermelon, brats, chicken, hot dogs, potatoes, all homemade. It’s a very nice opportunity to come visit and spend time with loved ones.

Can anyone dine at Grand Living if they would like to try it out?

They can. Reach out to our sales office at 605-799-1900, and come experience it. We enjoy hosting potential residents and their families to dine with us anytime. I encourage them to do that.

To learn more about Grand Living at Lake Lorraine, click here. 

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Superior food, distinctive ‘restaurants’ make dining at Grand Living a daily special event

Grand Living at Lake Lorraine is redefining dining in senior living, and a well-known Sioux Falls chef is helping lead the way.

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