"Taste of America" Wins ICAA Innovators Award

"Taste of America" combined everyone's favorite ingredients for a great time: food, music and friends.

Asbury~Solomons Island is a 2011 winner of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Innovators Award for its “Taste of America” events hosted throughout the course of the year. “This program has succeeded in engaging people and encouraging them to participate in something that enhances their health, wellness and quality of life,” said ICAA founder Colin Milner,  in announcing the award.

“Taste of America” included several outdoor events that took advantage of the community’s waterfront location, including a Dock Party featuring cocktails, music and dancing and desserts on the campus’s large pier. Other events spotlighted regional foods and customs around the nation such as a New England Clam Bake, a Southwestern barbecue  using a special grill where the charcoal lays above the meat and “A Taste of Southern Maryland,” which featured the local delicacy of stuffed ham and a game called corn-bag toss.

“The best part of these events was how there was no separation of residents and staff,” says Chef John Long. “We were all just hanging out together, enjoying the food and music, playing games and talking. Everyone was pitching in to help where they saw a need. And word spread after each event, so by the last few, people were coming up and making sure that they were on the list.”

Music was featured at several of the events, which had an educational aspect as well. Staff members created informational posters outlining the history behind some of the foods and during the meals, Chef John would circulate discussing cooking methods and regional ingredients.

Dennis Poremski, wellness director at the community, says he knew they were on to something special when they started seeing residents beyond the regular attendees at community social events. “Every time we looked around there were just smiles everywhere,” Dennis says. “It feels great knowing that we’re creating memorable events people look forward to.”

Staff members and residents are already busy planning next year’s events, with a New Orleans-inspired event scheduled for February.

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