Top Chefs Take Center Stage in a Celebration of Culinary Skill
March 27, 2026
Pan-seared scallops and tempura crab over herbed forbidden rice with cilantro, sweet pea purée, garnished with red pepper coral, caviar, and a fried crab leg…these aren’t ingredients one typically associates with senior living dining. Yet this was one of the remarkable dishes created by a Liberty Senior Living executive chef during the organization’s inaugural Top Chef Competition.
Showcasing Culinary Excellence
The competition was designed to highlight that dining in today’s senior living communities rivals upscale restaurants, offering flavorful, diverse, and beautifully presented meals prepared by accomplished professionals.
From Community Kitchens to the Big Stage
The first round of the competition featured executive chefs from Liberty’s independent living communities creating a main course. The five top contenders advanced to the final two rounds, held at The Barclay at SouthPark in Charlotte, where they prepared an appetizer and a dessert.
Judging with Expertise and Flavor
A panel of five judges including a resident dining committee representative, Liberty corporate leaders, and guest chef Jerry Lanuzza, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University, evaluated each dish on creativity, presentation, and flavor.
Crowning Liberty’s Top Chef
Pam Ballard of South Bay at Mount Pleasant near Charleston, South Carolina, earned the title of Top Chef. The spirited competition celebrated Liberty Senior Living’s culture of excellence, spotlighting the talent, creativity, and pride of its chefs.