COSTA MESA: A group of international senior housing designers has determined that ten trends are evolving in the over 50s housing sector. The group’s edicts, guidelines and advice is:
10. Emphasis on elevated, upscale restaurant dining venues.
It’s not uncommon for communities to request display kitchens, which are popular in many upscale restaurants, or to establish farm-to-table food options with local vendors. Residents are expecting as much choice as possible, and food is quickly becoming an important vehicle to provide that amenity. An engaging food experience has become the biggest request in lieu of the traditional banquet-style room with limited menu options. Hiring a talented chef to help design the dining experience is the best way to begin this process, and oftentimes the chef becomes the star of the community as a result. Melangé Restaurant at Vivante on the Coast in Costa Mesa, CA, offers residents a restaurant style, open-display kitchen complete with rotisserie, pizza oven, sushi bar, carving station and salad bar.