Covenant Village brings in new executive chef

John Ideen has been named executive chef at Covenant Village of Golden Valley, a continuing care retirement community in Golden Valley, Minn. He is employed by the community’s dining services provider Sodexo and will report to Dining Services Director Laurie Benson.

In his new position, Ideen will manage day-to-day food operations for the 344-resident community, including casual and formal dining in the residential and assisted living, memory support and healthcare settings. He is responsible for managing and training a kitchen staff of 65, creating innovative, healthful menus and managing the community’s catering services.

Ideen brings to Covenant Village more than a decade of culinary experience in the senior living industry. Previously, he was culinary director at York Gardens, in Edina, Minn. He was also director of dining services at SilverCrest Properties’ Village Shores Senior Campus, in Richfield, Minn.

Ideen earned a culinary arts diploma from Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Ore. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augsburg College, in Minneapolis, where he also minored in business administration.