Harbor Retirement takes farm-to-table to the next level

For the 20 HarborChase senior living communities in 11 states, farm-to-table is not just a catchphrase.

“We pride ourselves on recruiting top culinarians with restaurant and country club experience,” said Anthony Polito, VP of Hospitality for Harbor Retirement Associates, the company that operates HarborChase. “These chefs have deep-rooted connections with farmers and they continue those relationships.”

Local whenever possible is the goal, but when a farmer partnership is challenging, the chefs will source from a regional produce company or co-op. A longtime partner is an Amish creamery in Sarasota, Florida, with “amazing ice cream,” said Polito.

And even when HarborChase has to go further afield, the communities make sure they are making sustainable choices. For the coffee program, they partner with Thrive Coffee, which works with small farms in South America to source organic, fair-trade beans and profit-share with those mom-and-pop coffee farmers.

HarborChase’s local, sustainable cred “is a huge part of our marketing strategy,” said Polito. “We feel it’s a differentiator in senior living.” 

There are multiple dining venues throughout each community, including Counter-Offer coffee café with fresh-baked items and salads; Fusion Lounge with a professional mixologist and tapas menu; The Grill Room, a reservations-only chef-curated fine-dining experience; and Signatures, the designated farm-to-table restaurant with a tagline to match.

The farm-to-table Signatures restaurant is at all 20 locations. 

“On Signatures’ menu, we list the names of the farms and farmers we partner with and show how they reflect the different regions where we operate—from Florida to Chicago, Texas and New Jersey,” said Polito. Recent entrees here include Sweet Tea Brined Chicken, Potato-Crusted Mahi Mahi with Caper Tartar Sauce, Cowboy Meatloaf, and Peri Peri Braised Chicken Thigh with Kimchi-Mango Fried Rice. “We mix the classic with the more inventive so we can ‘speak’ to the residents as well as their grandchildren who are coming to visit,” he said.

Adam Freedman, whose father lives in a HarborChase community in Florida, feels that this cross-generational goal has led to something that goes beyond just sharing a meal.

“One of the things that sets them apart is this commitment to fostering social engagement through dining,” said Freedman in a statement. “It’s more than just meals; it’s about building community and supporting the holistic well-being of each resident.”

Polito believes that food as medicine, local partnerships and customization work together to fulfill HarborChase’s culinary mission and resident satisfaction.