News & Events

6/20/2008
University Village Names New Executive Chef

THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. - Roushdy Shenouda has been named executive chef for University Village Thousand Oaks, the new continuing care retirement community in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

As executive chef, Shenouda is responsible for all aspects of the community's daily kitchen operations, including quality control, purchasing, food preparation, scheduling, catering for special events and management of staff. He also oversees the development of menu items and weekly specials for University Village's breakfast, lunch and dinner service.

The community's culinary staff prepares and serves approximately 2,500 meals each week in its various dining rooms and for special events and family celebrations. All selections are created to support the dietary guidelines and needs of the community's active seniors.

"The executive chef position at University Village is one of the most critical jobs at our community," said Scott Polzin, executive director. "Fine dining is extremely important to the residents, who have high expectations when it comes to taste and selection. They truly have the final say. The residents have been very pleased with Roushdy and the quality of the food."

University Village encourages residents to comment on the food and service at the community on a daily basis using specially designed comment cards. Jim and Connie Murphy, residents at the community, recently wrote that "The halibut with crab sauce accompanied by a stuffed baked potato was superb. Our compliments to the chef."

Another resident, Lillian Levin, wrote that "The chef's unique steak and stuffing combination was delicious. We love the new items on the menu at both the Avalon Dining Room and the Montecito Lounge."

A resident of Granada Hills, Calif., Shenouda has more than 15 years of professional cooking and kitchen management expertise in the food service and hospitality industry, including experience with multi-million-dollar, upscale establishments. He graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in Essex Junction, VT, with a culinary arts degree and studied at the prestigious Restaurant L'Essentiel in Chambéry, France.

Prior to joining University Village, Shenouda was the executive chef for ArcLight Cinemas and Caf&3acute; in Hollywood and Sherman Oaks, Calif., where he was responsible for catering for major movie premieres as well as the daily operations of the cafes. He was also executive chef at La Spice Catering in Los Angeles. Professional achievements include the Gold Medal award in 1997 and the Best of Show award in 1999 from the Texas Chef Association. Shenouda is a member of the American Culinary Federation and the National Restaurant Association.

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