By Alan Suderman
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

With the holidays approaching, our stomachs are in for a treat. Or treat after treat after treat. And this time of year the catering team at Eagle’s Trace kicks its efforts into high gear.

Catered parties
“We can do anything our residents want, from hors d’oeuvres and cocktail parties to a more formal meal,” says Jeff Johnston, catering coordinator at Eagle’s Trace. He adds that near the end of the year, residents have the option of “chef’s dinners”—special five-course meals with wine pairings.

“We go out of our way to make sure our clients’ needs are met,” he says. “They can choose a menu or create one. And they can have an event in a catering room, the conference room, their apartment—anywhere. Basically, if they can dream it, we can do it.”

Adding to the ambience of the season, the dining room is decorated with poinsettias and holiday table settings.

“This is home for our residents, and we want to make it warm and inviting and to really promote a celebratory atmosphere,” Johnston says.

Home for the holidays
Ruth Herman, who lives at Eagle’s Trace, says the Catering Department recently helped her design an appropriate menu for her private dinner party to celebrate the Jewish holidays.

“The catering staff was just outstanding,” she says. “They really are very helpful in helping us having a dinner similar to our home.”

Pat Welbourn has had two catered parties at Eagle’s Trace. “I wanted my  friends to see firsthand how great we’re treated here,” she says.

“All I have to do is get the people here. It was effortless and fun, and they  treated us like queens, and everybody loved it.”

After sampling the turkey at a recent buffet in the dining room, Welbourn is convinced that the holiday meals are going to be spectacular. “I’m a dressing connoisseur, actually, and the dressing that they served was quite good,” she reports. “I would say that they are more than up for a holiday dinner.”