Retirement Community Welcomes New Executive Chef

Covenant Shores has tapped the culinary talent of Gerald (Jerry) Phipps, an award-winning, local chef with more than 35 years of experience, to serve as executive chef at the faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. He is employed by the community’s dining services provider Sodexo and will report to Covenant Shores Dining Services Director Michele Bergley.

As executive chef, Phipps will manage day-to-day food operations for the 370-person resident community, including casual and formal dining in the residential, assisted living and health care settings. He will manage and train a staff of 30 in kitchen and dining.

Before entering the senior living industry as an executive chef and culinary services director for an upscale independent living community in Seattle, Phipps worked in Washington’s culinary scene where for 13 years he was executive chef and president of award-winning Caruso’s Italian Café. He trained as sous chef for Master Italian Chef Alessandro Fasani for five years before serving as executive chef of Fasani’s restaurant. He later served as general manager of a Northwest cuisine and seafood restaurant.

“I developed a love for the culinary arts at an early age, often in the kitchen at the feet of my mother and grandmother, both of whom were exceptional cooks,” said Phipps. “I look forward to cooking for my new family at Covenant Shores.”

“Dining at Covenant Shores is a special experience, one where our residents enjoy high-quality food that is deliciously prepared and creatively presented,” said Executive Director Bruce Erickson. “We’re excited Jerry has joined our dining team.”

Phipps lives in Bothell, Wash.

About Covenant Shores

Covenant Shores, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community, is located at 9150 Fortuna Drive, Mercer Island, Wash. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior services providers. Covenant Retirement Communities serves 5,000 residents at 15 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on Covenant Shores, call 877-385-8613 or visit www.covenantshores.org.