Jonathan King went back to his boyhood to create the signature dish that landed him in the finals of Life Care Services’ national Chef of the Year competition. The Heritage of Brentwood’s executive chef is in Houston, Texas where the “Chopped”-style culinary competition takes place today, Thursday, Aug 1.
One of five finalists selected from an initial field of 27, King hopes to come home with the $10,000 grand prize.
King, 46, grew up outside Pilot Mountain, N.C. “The closest traffic light was 11 miles away,” he said. He loved to hunt and grew up eating rabbit. “I love rabbit,” he said. His Rabbit Porchetta won over the judges in the first round of the competition, earning him a trip to the finals hosted by Sysco at its national headquarters.
“There’s a story to this” he said, pointing to a picture of his plated creation. “The rabbit would eat every bit of this,” he said, pointing to the braised arugula, hand-roasted turnips, butter-roasted mushrooms, horseradish Frisch and roasted pistachios surrounding the succulent roasted rabbit.
On Thursday, the five finalists – all chefs at LCS senior living communities – will compete in the first round. Two will be eliminated in Round 1; one will be eliminated in Round 2. For the final, which begins at 2 p.m. CDT, the final two chefs will face off in a stadium-style amphitheater.
Life Care Services is the nation’s second-largest manager of senior living communities.
“I’m just starting to get a little bit nervous,” King admitted Tuesday afternoon before he and his wife Allison departed for Texas. The Heritage at Brentwood’s executive director Jon Tagatz will be in Houston to cheer him on.
Of his position at The Heritage, King said, “It truly is the best place I’ve ever worked.”
Though he initially studied music at Appalachian State University planning to be a band director, his love of food and cooking – honed as a kid – sent him in another direction. He earned his associate degree in culinary arts at Volunteer State Community College while simultaneously completing a three-year apprenticeship at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center through the American Culinary Federation (ACF).
King spent over 10 years at Opryland in a variety of chef and management roles. He joined The Heritage in the fall of 2012 and oversees its two restaurants, the Fireside Grille and Southern Oak.
Life Care Services (LCS) is the nation’s second-largest manager of senior living communities, serving about 35,000 residents daily in the 140 communities it manages. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company recognizes and celebrates the hospitality and culinary talents its chefs contribute to enriching the lives of the seniors they serve.
The Heritage at Brentwood, managed by LCS, is located on 48 acres just 20 minutes from downtown Nashville. It is Middle Tennessee’s only true LifeCare® senior retirement. Independent living options include single-family, duplex and garden villas.
