Bon appetit has new meaning at the Arlington

by Chuck Myron, Communications Editor CONRIC PR & Marketing

The Arlington of Naples isn’t just about Living Brightly. It’s about dining brightly, too. There’s no better way to do that than to assemble the brightest culinary minds. That’s just what The Arlington has in new Food and Beverage Director Jon Phillips and new Executive Chef Stephen Scott. They accentuate the community’s mission to provide vibrant, grace-filled living to everyone in the community.

Executive Chef Stephen Scott with Food & Beverage Director Jon Phillips

“Having the opportunity to work with and showcase the remarkable talents of both of these accomplished professionals is a dream come true for me,” said Vicki Tracy, The Arlington’s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing. “Being able to see our residents experience dining that goes beyond expectations is such a high point.”

Both come with a wealth of experience in resort settings. Phillips has been in the food and beverage industry since the age of 12. He attended culinary school in Aylesbury and Oxford in the U.K., finishing at the top of his class and earning the first pick of the best resorts. It’s no wonder he wound up at The Arlington, which is celebrating its second year of senior living at its very best. Owned and operated by Lutheran Life Communities out of Arlington Heights, Illinois, LLC is celebrating its 125 year of serving seniors throughout the Midwest.

“I was drawn to The Arlington’s passion for providing personalized service to guests like a country club, but with the refinement and quality of a resort,” Phillips said. “My background encompassed all of those things, which made this a good fit.” Phillips, a Cleveland native, returned to the U.S. in 1995 after his time in the U.K., where he worked at the BBC in London refining his talents. He was the beverage manager at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, and he later became the food and beverage director at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort.

Among his credits is starting the highly acclaimed “Dinner at the Dome” dining room during his time working for Artis Naples. A guest lecturer for the Florida Gulf Coast University Hospitality Program, he is always eager to train others about how to make dining special, fueled by a curiosity and fascination that began at an early age “I am committed to enhancing the quality of life and every guest experience no matter what Arlington neighborhood they’re in, whether independent living or our health care neighborhoods,” Phillips said.

Phillips knows how to bring prestige and top-flight service to the table. He started CaterMasters, a premium Naples catering company in 2007, tripling its revenue over a nine-year period. He’s won “Best Of ” honors multiple times from Gulfshore Life magazine. “It’s got to be fresh, innovative and prepared in a way that will
transcend the guest’s expectations,” Phillips said. While Phillips enjoys cooking Indian food at home, he will be
working in tandem with Scott to provide an array of interesting cuisines from all over the world. He’ll be incorporating his favorites — traditional French cuisine and traditional Indian curries — into The Arlington menus in tandem with Chef Stephen, a two-time Five-Star Award winner during his time at the Ritz-Carlton Naples.

“Every dish I prepare, I pretend as though I am serving it to my grandmother, so I want to be sure the taste is the best possible,” Chef Stephen said. “For some people, that’s their highlight of the day, and I want to be sure it’s the best it could be.” Chef Stephen graduated as valedictorian from the Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts, and his passion for food is readily apparent. So is his desire to “use the plate as a palette for art.” Still, he understands and embraces the value of well-loved favorites. “Food brings everyone together,” he said. “So many good
feelings come from it.”

An Indianapolis native, Chef Stephen knows how to dish out the comforts of home, as evidenced by his succulent specialty — roasted chicken with salty, crispy skin and lots of herbs. “Every time I would come home from college, my mom would make this dish, and I could smell the herbs as soon as I hit the door,” he said. “That’s when I knew I was home.” Chef Stephen has set about to instill that touch and feel for cuisine to a staff of 20 cooks dedicated to providing the highest level of service imaginable. “I’ve worked with people from all around the world, including Africa, the Philippines and India, and we want to bring those flavors to the guest and show them what food can be,” he said.

Chef Stephen is passionate about transforming cooks into accomplished chefs. Working with the existing culinary team at The Arlington will allow him to aid in their development. “After meeting with The Arlington executive team, I saw that they’re all trying to bring diversity and add a little gourmet food and feel to the community,” he said. “That really spoke to me.” “By recruiting the very best professionals, the addition of these two highly regarded and world renowned food and beverage experts have accelerated The Arlington culinary experience and service to our residents even more. Jon and Chef Stephen have already proven to be a dynamic team that our residents, guests and staff are raving about. States Rick LoCastro, Executive Director, The Arlington. This culinary duo wonders no more, and neither will residents of The Arlington, who will soon get yet another taste of senior living at its best.