Dine without reservations at The Bristal. Chefs at every community serve nutritious, creative, and delicious meals every day. We work with each resident to ensure our offerings match their needs and preferences. There’s an option for everyone at The Bristal.
Alluring Eats
Our award-winning chefs at The Bristal are committed to making every meal a scrumptious and memorable experience with flavorful, fun, nutritious, and creative dishes served daily. We collaborate with the Recreation Department to hold festive food tastings, competitions, demos, and themed lunches and dinners, such as Italian Night, Oktoberfest, Summer BBQs, and more.
Enjoy prepared-to-order meals at our Chef Action Stations, spend a special evening of elegant dining at The Executive’s Table, or enjoy delicious munchies, desserts, and drinks. The choice is yours. There’s something for everyone when it comes to dining at The Bristal.
Taste of Home Program
With our Taste of Home program, share your favorite recipe with your peers. Simply fill out a recipe card and return to your Director of Food Service. The Director may then serve the dish at mealtime or hold a demonstration and tasting event with residents.
Residents at The Bristal also influence what’s on the menu at their community. Through monthly Food Committee meetings, a group of representatives meet with the location’s chef and discuss likes and dislikes, and offer ongoing feedback for the menu.
All in all, we have fun with food, and we are conscious, of course, to comply with all religious holidays and observances.
SmartChoice: Healthy Ingredients
A vital part of healthy living, of course, is a commitment to healthy eating, and we educate residents on how smarter eating promotes better health and well-being.
The chefs at The Bristal have made it their mission to present our residents every day with more nutritionally-conscious choices by creating recipes focusing on “clean foods” – foods that promote healthy brain function and improve cognitive ability.
At The Bristal, you’ll also find heart-healthy, sugar-free, and no-salt-added options available at each of our communities.
The Bristal’s Culinary Leadership Team
We offer residents an array of appetizing meal choices each day, along with special events, action stations, and culinary programs to always keep the dining experience fresh and fun. The importance of having delicious and nutritious chef-prepared meals within an assisted living community simply cannot be overstated. That’s why here at The Bristal, we have a solid team of leaders who ensure consistency in expectation and standards across all communities. The team includes hardworking Prep Cooks, Servers, Sous Chefs, Executive Chefs, Dining Room Managers, Regional Teams, and more – all who love what they do. At the helm is Randy Tremble, Vice President of Food and Beverage. Learn more:
Meet Randy Tremble
Vice President of Food & Beverage
Randy Tremble oversees the dining experience at all communities of The Bristal. Few resumes come as solid and comprehensive as his, culminating in over 30 years of experience in the culinary arts. Formally trained in the U.S. Air Force, Randy has served the private sector now for decades, and has worked alongside some of the world’s best chefs, both nationally and abroad. This massive talent and global expertise all translates into a consistently exceptional Resident Dining Program for the residents we serve. His uncompromising attention to detail, his understanding of senior nutrition and his love for the culinary arts have all been instrumental in making The Bristal second-to-none when it comes to dining and cuisine.
Farm to Table
The Bristal partners with local farmers and providers to ensure that no matter the time of year, we include fresh and in-season ingredients in the delicious meals that we serve.
Much of our produce comes directly from farmers in the tri-state area. And local meat and seafood are often on the menu as well. Fresh, nutritious food is important to us and our residents – and you’ll find plenty of it here.
Modified Diets
In addition to regular meals and snacks, The Bristal is able to accommodate modified diets as needed. Therapeutic diets include no salt added (NAS), no concentrated sweets (NCS), lactose free (LF), and gluten free (GF). Mechanically altered diets include soft to chew, chopped, ground and pureed.
We believe that meals should always be appetizing and well-balanced. Ask us for more information about our modified diet options.
A Note About Nutrition
Here at The Bristal, we know that good nutrition is key to feeling your best. Especially as we age, nutritional and dietary needs can change. We staff a full-time Registered Dietitian to not only ensure that meals and offerings are well-balanced, but to offer more options for those who may need a modified diet. The Bristal is well-versed in offering therapeutic diets like no salt added, no concentrated sweets, or perhaps lactose or gluten free options. In special cases, we are also able to accommodate mechanically altered diets, sometimes referred to as a mechanical diet. These include pureed or ground foods or those which are soft to chew. With Alaina Hoschke on board, residents at The Bristal can feel confident that their nutritional needs are met no matter what. Learn more about Alaina:
Meet Alaina Hoschke
Registered Dietitian
A registered dietitian with a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition, Alaina Hoschke, MS, RD, CDN adds more than just a dash of expertise to our Dining Services team. She has a solid background in clinical nutritional therapy covering a range of specialties – including geriatrics – allowing The Bristal to better serve residents with special dietary needs. Her responsibilities include menu planning for regular and modified diets throughout The Bristal communities, as well as conducting ongoing education for staff and residents. She also spearheaded The Bristal’s Taste of the Season program, which encourages residents and staff alike to try new and interesting ingredients.
Favorite Recipes, Chef Highlights and More!
Eating well is so important for our overall health – no matter our age. At The Bristal, we know a thing or two – not only about nutrition, but also the importance that food plays in our everyday lives as well as our family traditions. On The Bristal Blog, we highlight our talented chefs, share some of their favorite recipes, and touch on important topics surrounding nutrition for seniors. Here are the most recent entries from our food and dining category.
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Chef’s Table: The Bristal at Englewood’s Reese Franklin Shares His Pan-Seared Florida Grouper Recipe
Reese began his culinary career at an early age, with his siblings being his first patrons. The oldest of six, Reese assumed responsibility for preparing dinner for his brothers and sisters while his mother was at work. She taught him how to bake, […]
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Chef’s Table: The Bristal at Jericho’s Mark Hain Shares His Recipe for Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Turkey Bolognese
A native of Long Island, Mark’s love of food and fine dining can be traced back to early Sunday mornings spent in the kitchen with his father. Each week, the pair would rise early – working together to prepare the family’s meal for later in […]
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Chef’s Table: The Bristal at Somerset’s Jim Hayes Shares His Recipe for Nashville Hot Chicken
Chef’s table is an occasional series highlighting the talented chefs from The Bristal Assisted Living communities. Today we are featuring Jim Hayes, Director of Food Service for The Bristal at Somerset.
Seasonal Snapshot
Whether it’s this month’s Taste of the Season recipe or made-to-order flatbreads in the Bistro, we love to highlight the culinary delights from our communities. Here you’ll find the latest from our Instagram feed:
Residents in Englewood enjoyed a beautiful lunch in the Bistro Grille this week – grilled cheese with turkey and bacon on rye bread, paired with a flavorful tomato bisque. There is nothing better than a classic grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, especially when it is chef-prepared with the finest ingredients! #thebristalassistedliving #englewood #diningatthebristal
Taco Tuesday in the Bistro Grille yesterday was the perfect excuse to start the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Englewood. Residents enjoyed fish and beef tacos, salads, and freshly-made churros! It was fun-filled afternoon and we can't wait to see what today's festivities will bring. 🌮 #thebristalassistedliving #englewood #stayingactive #diningatthebristal
This is your daily reminder to eat your greens 🥬
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This month, we kicked off our Taste of the Season program with 3 Ways Baked Kale Chips.⠀
The residents enjoyed a chef demonstration and later tasted this delicious, low calorie snack. The kale chips were prepared three different ways— Classic, Italian Style, and Seaside Spice. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods— loaded with powerful antioxidants, it helps reduce the risk of cancer & cholesterol, and has more Vitamin C than an orange! ⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #thebristalatjericho #jericho #thebristalateastmeadow #eastmeadow #tasteoftheseason #dining #kale #kalechips #food #eatinglongisland #lieats #longislandfood #nationalgardenmonth #diningatthebristal
The next Taste of the Season recipe has us ready for summer! This refreshing pineapple salsa provides many key vitamins and minerals needed to keep our bodies healthy and strong. The tropical fruit provides 131% of daily vitamin C and 75% of daily manganese! From chef demonstrations to making homemade pineapple-scented (and shaped) soap, we had a great time eating, smelling, and learning about this delicious fruit!⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #thebristalatjericho #jericho #thebristalatholtsville #holtsville #thebristalatlakegrove #lakegrove #tasteoftheseason #dining
As we close out National Nutrition Month, Registered Dietitian, Alaina Hoschke, shares one final fun fact! As of January 2021, all artificial trans fats (partially-hydrogenated oils) have been eliminated from all U.S. food sources. However, trans fat is still listed on the nutrition facts label as some foods contain naturally occurring trans fats.⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #nationalnutritionmonth #dining
Registered Dietitian, Alaina Hoschke, shares a few more fun facts as we near the end of National Nutrition Month! Did you know that most Americans consume more than double the daily recommended amount of added sugar? The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 9 teaspoons (36g) per day for men and 6 teaspoons (25g) per day for women. To put that in perspective, a can of regular soda contains about 35g of sugar - about 140 calories of added sugar! ⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #nationalnutritionmonth #dining
The next "Nutrition Month" tip from Registered Dietitian, Alaina Hoschke, is about dietary fiber. Total dietary fiber intake should be 25 to 30 grams a day from food, not supplements. Currently, dietary fiber intake among adults in the US averages to 15 grams a day - that's about half the recommended amount! To increase our fiber intake, Alaina recommends including more whole grains and whole cereals, legumes and beans, as well as more fruits and vegetables!⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #nationalnutritionmonth #dining
This month, for National Nutrition Month, Registered Dietitian at The Bristal, Alaina Hoschke, shares a few fun facts! This week we focus on sodium intake. Did you know that Americans eat on average about 3,400 mg of sodium per day? That is significantly higher than the recommended daily intake of 2,300 mg per day, which is equal to about 1 tsp of salt! One way to limit yourself - try using more herbs and spices in your cooking instead of table salt! ⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #nationalnutritionmonth #dining
Another Taste of the Season recipe featured in February for American Hearth Month: Avocado Blueberry Muffins! These heart-healthy muffins are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and potassium. Avocado is the perfect substitute for unhealthy fats such as oils or butter, making these muffins a delicious source of essential vitamins, with lower saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium - healthy, sweet, and satisfying!⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #tasteoftheseason #dining
Check out the next Taste of the Season recipe: Almond Snack Mix! This easy snack recipe was featured as a part of American Heart Month this month. The recipe was developed by @AmericanHeart and focuses on heart healthy fats found in almonds. This sweet and crunchy snack also boasts plenty of fiber!⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #tasteoftheseason #dining
We enjoyed beautiful homemade pizza's, each delivered in personal boxes last week on National Pizza Day!⠀
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#thebristal #thebristalassistedliving #assistedliving #thebristalatenglewood #englewood #stayingactive #nationalpizzaday #dining
Love and friendship filled the air throughout all of The Bristal communities this Valentine's Day. Residents from all over enjoyed festive treats and love potions, while heartfelt notes from friends and loved ones made the day feel extra sweet. Valentine-inspired art projects, games and activities took place around the clock for everyone to enjoy. On behalf of everyone in The Bristal family...we hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!
#thebristalassistedliving #thebristal #assistedliving #stayingactive #dining
