Park Springs' Executive Chef Derrick Henry Wins ACF-Atlanta Chefs Association 2014 Chef of the Year

On Monday, February 2, Executive Chef Derrick Henry, CCC, welcomed 200 American Culinary Federation–Atlanta Chefs Association (ACF-ACA) members and their guests for the 2015 ACF President’s Gala Awards Dinner at Park Springs, the premier retirement community in Atlanta. At the conclusion of this stellar event, Henry was honored with the 2014 Chef of the Year Award for the Atlanta Metro area.

“I am humbled by this top professional recognition,” says Henry. “To be selected as the 2014 Chef of the Year from more than 350 ACF members in the Atlanta Metro area, all professionals in the hospitality and food service industry, is a true honor.”

Since 2007, Henry has run the four distinct dining venues at the Park Springs retirement community: the Market Café Bistro, the Main Dining Room, the Springhouse Grill and the Park Springs Pub.

He completed his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America, and was offered an externship at Le Bernardin in Manhattan, working for renowned Chef Eric Ripert. From there, Henry worked at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Frungillo’s, a private catering company. He went on to serve at The Fairfield Tara Hotel in New Jersey, and also worked under the direction of Executive Chef Enio Riga, personal chef of Johnny Carson of The Tonight Show.

On his first venture South, Henry was employed by Atlanta’s iconic restaurant, Pano & Paul’s in Buckhead, but because of family ties in New Jersey, Chef Derrick returned there and accepted a position with the BMW Corporation as Executive Chef in their head office in Park Ridge (NJ).

However, when Andy Isakson, Managing Partner of Isakson Living, the developer and operator of Park Springs, offered him the position of Executive Chef at the resort-style senior community in Stone Mountain, Henry accepted with pleasure.

Every day, the Members at Park Springs are thankful for Henry’s extensive experience and culinary expertise.

“Congratulations to Chef Derrick with this well-deserved and prestigious Chef of the Year Award,” says Kevin Isakson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Isakson Living. “We asked him to design elegant and diverse menus for Park Springs, offering a variety of healthy, fresh and great tasting options. Chef Henry has accomplished that in each of our four dining venues; they rival the best metro area restaurants in their class. This recognition validates all he has accomplished. Thanks to him, good taste, sophistication, quality, creativity and healthy choices are always on the menu.”

ABOUT PARK SPRINGS:

Park Springs (opened in 2007), developed and operated by Isakson Living, is a 54-acre campus style Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) surrounded by Stone Mountain Park. Park Springs is a vibrant community of active adults 62 and above who live in spacious private homes and enjoy a club-inspired lifestyle. Park Springs includes 398 Independent Living Units; Health Center with 24 SN beds, 12 Dementia beds and 28 AL suites; Clubhouse with variety of dining options and common areas; and Fitness Center with lap pool, therapy pool and exercise room. Members live in a detached single-family home, cottage home or condominium-style villa. The community provides food and beverage services in diverse settings and many social, educational and enrichment opportunities.

Residential options offering a higher level of services and care are also available on campus. These include home health, assisted living suites, memory care or our Medicare-certified skilled nursing and rehabilitation center within Cobblestone at Park Springs. As situations change, Members can move into the type of home or environment that best meets their needs.

678-684-3300

www.parksprings.com | www.isaksonliving.com

Photo caption: ACF–Atlanta Chefs Association 2015 President’s Gala Awards Dinner at Park Springs

Left to right:

Andy Isakson, Managing Partner, Isakson Living; Park Springs Executive Chef Derrick Henry, 2014 Chef of the Year; Kully Crean, President, ACF-Atlanta Chefs Association; Jim Schneeberger, Park Springs Director of Food & Beverage.