More than a Menu:
Where Every Day Tastes Like Home

On a warm Friday evening, Bowman Place welcomed more than 100 residents and their families to a Hawaiian-themed Luau. An array of Caribbean options, fresh pineapple and Blue Hawaiian cocktails, with or without spirits, filled the menu, while a hula dancer moved through the crowd pulling guests into impromptu lessons. The energy was pure aloha.

Leading the effort is Sherri, Glendale Dining Services’ General Manager, alongside a dedicated team that turns every event into something memorable and fun. The wheels start turning, the theme is set and the planning begins. Under her guidance, they approach each special occasion with a goal of surpassing the last and time and again, they deliver.

It’s a standard that comes from decades of experience. Sherri has been in food service and senior care for more than 30 years, starting when she earned her CNA license and went to work at a small nursing home in high school. From dietary aide to cook to hospitality management, she’s a self-proclaimed jack, or in this case jill, of all trades who now oversees a team of 28.

“Food service is just so much fun, and who doesn’t love great food? For me, it’s about offering great customer service and making a difference,” she said. “Every day is different.”

That philosophy extends to how residents experience meals every day. Anytime dining is one of Bowman’s standout offerings, allowing residents to dine when it works best for them. Whether they’re coming back from an appointment or simply enjoying a relaxed morning, they can choose from breakfast served all day, rotating lunch and dinner specials, and an all-day menu featuring favorites like Chili, Pizza, Taste of New England, and Mac and Cheese.

The offerings aren’t just delicious, they’re nutritious. Anything the kitchen can make from scratch, it does, and low-sodium cooking means residents get all the yum without all the sodium. Every menu item is reviewed and signed off by a registered dietitian before it’s served, so the care is built in from the start. Daily homemade soups, scratch-made dishes and thoughtful ingredient choices keep things flavorful and wholesome, and Bowman’s chefs take pride in every plate, right down to the presentation. As Sherri puts it, we all eat with our eyes, and that culinary pride shows.

It shows in the details, too. An avid gardener herself, Sherri makes full use of the herb garden planted by Bowman residents. There’s nothing quite like finishing a chicken parm with a sprinkling of fresh basil picked steps from the kitchen.

Beyond the everyday menu, Sherri stays closely connected to what residents actually want. Monthly resident Food Committee meetings give everyone a voice, because having a say in what you eat is an important part of feeling at home. That chili on the all-day menu? A resident asked for it.

That same sense of community extends to residents loved ones. Sherri remembers one family who hosted their Thanksgiving celebration at Bowman, turning the meeting room into a space filled with family traditions and shared stories. They shared their requests, Sherri and her team handled the rest, allowing the family to spend the holiday simply enjoying time together.

It all comes back to the residents. When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, Sherri doesn’t hesitate: “The residents. Hands down. I work here because they live here. Any difference that I can make for them, somehow, in some way, is very impactful for me.”