Meet our new Senior Director of Culinary Services, Kathy King

Kathleen King joined RiverWoods Exeter in November as Senior Director of Culinary Services. Kathy was the Dining Director at Wake Robin (a CCRC in Burlington, VT) for 11 years where she was responsible for all dining operations including four dining rooms, three satellite kitchens and one main kitchen. While at Wake Robin, Kathy created and implemented programs and initiatives designed to create a culinary program rooted in local, organic and sustainable food. Kathy is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY) and has a B.A. in English with a minor in Management from D’Youville College (Buffalo, NY).

We sat down to talk with Kathy for a few minutes and ask her about her personal beliefs about food and dining.

What is your personal philosophy on food in general?

I believe in local first. I am very much into local and sustainable foods whenever possible.

How did you come to this mindset?

I have been working with an organization called Health Care Without Harm for the last ten years and their work on local and sustainable procurement made a great impact on me. The food we put into our bodies plays a key role in our entire make-up. I think it is important to be more mindful of the food we consume and what it does to us.

What is your vision for the Dining Program at RiverWoods?

I was attracted to this community by the growing opportunity to make a difference in senior living. I’m eager for opportunities to share my past experiences and build new ones. I’d like to take our dining program in an even more local and sustainable direction. I think new and current residents are looking for healthy and sustainable foods – they want to know where their food is coming from and they want it to be good, casual and have plenty of options.

When new residents walk into our dining rooms and take a look at the menu, I want them to think “This is the place for me and a place I can bring my friends.”

If you were to prepare a perfect meal, what would it include?

A great bottle of red wine and a roast chicken – simple cooking, but if done well it’s the best comfort food you can ask for!

Click here to see sample menus and learn more about the culinary offerings at RiverWoods Exeter.