New chef a hit with residents of Sterling Glen

Chris McClave has worked at several of the finest eateries in Queens and Long Island. But he finds the challenges, and the rewards, of heading the food services for Sterling Glen of Forest Hills, an assisted living senior residence, to be the greatest of all his professional experience.
&#8220At a restaurant, your clientele changes from day to day; but here, we are feeding the same residents three meals a day. It takes a lot of creativity to keep the menu from getting boring,” he explained. &#8220You also have to make sure that you meet dietary requirements, preparing foods that are low in sodium and low in sugar, yet that still taste good.”
McClave, a resident of Valley Stream, has spent the last 20 years in the culinary industry, having worked at Caf Spuntino in Jericho, served as Executive Chef at Valley Caterers in Franklin Square, and as Sous Chef for Luna, also in Franklin Square. He also owned his own restaurant, Lenzis, in Flushing. But for the past eight years, he has been cooking for assisted living residences. This past January, he became chef at Sterling Glen.
&#8220I learned my love of cooking from my grandmother,” he said. &#8220She was a great cook and loved cooking for a large family.” He notes that many of the Sterling Glen residents are grandparents themselves, and have spent a lifetime learning, preparing and perfecting their favorite recipes.
&#8220They provide me with a lot of input about food preparation,” said McClave. &#8220In fact, I’m trying to start a program here in which residents share their recipes with me and I prepare them for the entire dining room. I’d like to call it ‘From the Table Of….’ Or ‘From the Recipe of….’.”
McClave and his staff of 12 prepare about 200 meals a day in the main dining room. They also stock Sterling Glen’s Bistro Caf, which is open 24-hours-a-day, cook meals for private functions, and host special events such as the Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo festivals.
&#8220Our menus have to include numerous choices for the residents, including several different appetizers, salads, and entrees at each meal. The menus also include lighter fare such as sandwiches and hamburgers. We have to be very careful to ensure that all meals are balanced to meet the special nutritional requirements of seniors.”
It isn’t just the food preparation that appeals to McClave. He also enjoys the social interaction that working in a residence like Sterling Glen affords him. &#8220I’m with our residents sometimes 10 or 12 hours a day,” he explained. &#8220I go out into the dining room during each of the meals and chat with the diners, many of whom have become good friends. It’s been a wonderful experience.”