Chef Jet Tila Brings His “Cutthroat Kitchen” to Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay

TV viewers across the country admire the on-screen talent and humor of Chef Jet Tila on the Food Network’s Camp Cutthroat and Cutthroat Kitchen, but few have the chance to step into the kitchen with the famed cook. Privileged guests at the 2^nd Annual Westminster-Canterbury Foundation Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstration and Dinner on September 23^rd interacted with Chef Jet as he demonstrated Thai-style Satay Lamb Chops and shared cooking tips from the stage. 

The evening, which raised funds for the Westminster-Canterbury Foundation, kicked off with a lively VIP reception and “meet and greet” with Chef Jet. Guests and residents mingled and snapped photos, sampled signatures dishes such as Drunken Noodles and enjoyed cocktails, like the Thai Silk Sake.

Following the reception, guests took their seats as Chef Jet ruled the kitchen stage, where he joked with members of the audience while cooking up Thai-style Satay Lamb Chops. He shared secrets on the perfect Thai curry sauce, how to cook with a can of coconut milk and tips on serving the perfect piece of meat. 

“Chef Jet felt like part of the WC community from the moment he arrived on campus Wednesday morning,” says Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allman. “Guests were able to learn from his cooking expertise, but he also had the opportunity to collaborate with our culinary team on creative Asian-inspired recipes.”  

Chef Jet and the culinary team at Westminster prepared and served a three-course dinner that included a Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, Roasted Salmon with Mango Slaw and Ancient Grains, Satay Lamb Chops with Peanut Sauce and a Poached Asian Pear over Almond Cake with Franzipan cookie, toasted almonds and Japanese pinwheel for dessert. 

The event raised over $22,000 for the Westminster-Canterbury Foundation, which provides financial support for residents, staff members and the surrounding community. A special thank you to WC’s partners, Flik Lifestyles and The Compass Group, and to all of the event sponsors that made the evening such a success. 

To see more photos from the Celebrity Chef and other exciting events at Westminster-Canterbury visit the Facebook page.  

WC People: Ty Brown

Westminster-Canterbury resident Ty Brown is a retired lawyer who spends much of his time “focusing” on photography, his favorite pastime.

Born and raised in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Ty Brown earned a bachelors degree from Swarthmore College and a law degree from the University of Colorado. Ty worked for 51 years as a lawyer, but took up photography as a hobby after his wife brought home a camera she found on a remote mountain trail. He began shooting photos of his family members, vacations and then joined the St. Louis Camera Club, where he learned the artistic fundamentals of photography. Ty has presented his work through slide shows, competed in and judged local competitions and earned the Photographic Society of America’s Award of Excellence for his achievements in international competitions. 

Ty and his wife Penny moved to Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay in 2004, where he continues to use his camera to capture local life on the Bay and record events on campus. Fellow residents often ask him to shoot family gatherings, and it’s not unusual for friends to call with ideas on unusual subject matter, in hopes that Ty will bring his camera to capture the moment.

For the past 10 years, Ty has volunteered with the Norfolk Botanical Garden Camera Club, at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where he conducts photography workshops.  He enjoys shooting photos in the gardens, and many of his favorite shots are “macro-images” or close-ups on subject matter, such as a single blossom or flower.

“Seeing the patterns in nature makes me realize that I am really a small part of God’s higher order,” says Ty. “Capturing the things I see is my opportunity to give back.” 

Take a look at some of his shots from the Botanical Gardens below. You can also see Ty's photos highlighted on the Westminster-Canterbury website (like the shot of the pier above) and on the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/WestminsterCanterbury. 

Meet Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allman

Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allman has a special place in her heart for Westminster-Canterbury. As a child, she spent her weekends on campus with her grandmother, attending events and visiting with friends and family. Today, she spends time at WC in her career, and she has the opportunity to directly enhance the lives of others who live and visit here. Since 2013, she has worked to bring joy to the lives of all those who come in contact with Westminster-Canterbury through the support provided by the Foundation to residents, staff and friends of the community. “We really are a unique community,” says Allman. “The Foundation allows us to provide support and peace of mind to our residents and staff.”

Each year, Allman orchestrates three major events to support those who benefit from the Foundation. The most well-known is the “Bringing Joy to Life” Dinner, second is the Annual Golf Classic, and the newest is the celebrity chef dinner, which was held for the first time last fall.

“Bringing Joy to Life” is an opportunity for the Foundation to thank contributors for their support over the year. The celebration dinner is also a time to reflect on the past year, and allows donors to see the impact of their generosity on the community.

“My favorite part of the night is listening to staff members who have benefited from the fund tell their stories,” says Allman. “We hear from employees who have received scholarships to further their education, and those who have other unmet needs, who have benefited from the Employee Emergency Fund.”

One of many examples from this year’s dinner came from an employee named Gwen. She explained how the fund allowed her to make repairs to her car, when she was unable to come up with the financing. She was so grateful and appreciative and thanked attendees of the event saying, “Not only did this help me, but aided my son, who relies on me for transportation to school and athletic practice each day.” This small gift from Foundation donors changed the life of an employee and her family.

“Stories like Gwen’s make donor gifts tangible and really help drive home the mission,” says Ashley. “It allows you to put a name and face with the cause and creates a very personal connection.”

Most recently, the Foundation hosted the celebrity chef dinner and demonstration featuring Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani. Coming up next is the Westminster-Canterbury Foundation’s 12^th Annual Golf Classic at Bayville Golf Club. The tournament will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at Noon and the “19th Hole" Reception will be held back at Westminster-Canterbury immediately following the tournament. For more information, please call Ashley at (757) 496-1106 or email Ashley.Allman@wcbay.com.

The WC Foundation became it’s own 501(c)3 in 1992, and serves to maintain and enhance the lives of residents, employees and the surrounding community.  

“You truly can’t put a price tag on the peace of mind the Foundation provides to our staff and residents,” says Allman. “That security, along with being good stewards of the dollars invested in our Foundation are what sets us apart from other communities.”

For more information about Westminster-Canterbury and the Foundation visit http://www.wcbay.com/the-westminster-canterbury-foundation.

Westminster-Canterbury Take Home “People’s Choice Award” at Foodbank’s Taste of Hampton Roads

Chef Peter and his talented dining team at Westminster-Canterbury joined nearly 40 local restaurants and businesses to participate in the 26th Annual Taste of Hampton Roads event on March 3rd at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The event benefited the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and raised enough money to purchase over 600,000 meals for those in need. Prior to the tasting event, Chef Peter participated as one four “Iron Chefs” in a cooking competition held during the VIP reception. After he worked up a sweat cooking against the clock, Chef Peter joined the rest of the dining team at the WC booth, to unveil his “Fire & Ice” creation, a fusion of Wagu Beef Short Rib and Lobster served over asparagus and cucumber slaw. 

At the end of the night, the votes were tallied, and “Fire & Ice” was awarded the People’s Choice Award from the Foodbank, earning more votes than any other dish at the event.

“I was extremely excited about the win and the opportunity to return to Taste of Hampton Roads this year with a new dish,” says Chef Peter. “It’s great to work for a community that puts an emphasis on the quality of its food and dining team. Their support allows me to create signature healthy dishes every day in the community, not just at events like this.”

Chef Peter also created an “at-home” version of the winning dish. You can make it yourself, just follow the recipe at www.wcbay.com/recipes.

March 2015- Westminster-Canterbury Named Hampton Roads Employer of Choice

We’re excited to be featured as the “Employer of Choice” for the month of March. We owe it all to our pre-eminent employees. 

Read the article below to learn more about what it’s like to have a career at Westmisnter-Canterbury, and visit http://www.wcbay.com/jobs-home to find out how to join our team! 

Westminster-Canterbury Joins “Fabulous Foodies Fighting Hunger” for Taste of Hampton Roads

In less than a month, Chef Peter and his talented dining team at Westminster-Canterbury will join nearly 40 local restaurants and businesses participating in the 26th Annual Taste of Hampton Roads to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. This year’s theme, “Fabulous Foodies Fighting Hunger,” celebrates culinary superstars across the region, like our own Chef Peter Tseng.

The popular event will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, as attendees sample and vote on their favorite dishes. Prior to the tasting event, Chef Peter will be in the “Iron Chef” competition, cooking against the clock and other top kings of the kitchen with a secret ingredient revealed just moments before the cooking begins. VIP guests will join Peter and the other Iron Chefs to watch and taste their creations.

Last year, our team served “lollichops", pictured below, and taught attendees the secrets of searing lamb. So what’s Chef Peter preparing this year? He’s not saying, and we can’t wait to find out.

Each ticket purchased to Taste of Hampton Roads provides food and grocery items that will be distributed through local food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, Kids Cafes®, BackPack Programs, and Mobile Pantries. Join the party and the fight against hunger. Visit Taste of Hampton Roads for more information and to purchase general admission and VIP tickets. 

Guest Post: Health and Wellness Quarterly

Guest blogger Marybeth Highton shares her health and wellness newsletter.

Cross Train Your Brain for 2015

By Scott W. Sautter, Ph.D.

Reducing stress is on most people’s list of New Year’s Resolutions. There are many ways to accomplish it, and one of the best is through physical exercise, which protects the brain from mood disorders by reducing anxiety and lowering the risk for depression. 

Researchers in Sweden found that exercise training induces changes in skeletal muscle that can purge the blood of substances that accumulate during stress and is harmful to the brain. Skeletal muscle appears to have a detoxification affect that when activated can protect the brain from insults and related mental illness. Exercise helps to control blood pressure, obesity, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, all of which are risk factors for neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Jamie Peters, a sports medicine specialist caring for older adults, advocates cross-training to spread the stress of exercise among different muscles. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggested that exercise may be considered a new vital sign, where physicians check their patient’s fitness levels and prescribe specifically tailored workout regimens. As an example, anxiety and depression can be treated with five minute sessions of aerobic exercise and building to 20-60 minutes four days a week with an emphasis on stretching such as yoga. Movement helps individuals with Parkinson’s disease by slowing down the progression of the illness, and it enhances the production of serotonin, which we know reduces depression. 

A fascinating study on the effect of exercise on the brains of older adults who exercise revealed increased volume in the corpus callosum and prefrontal cortex, compared to a stretching group and a waiting group. This indicated that aerobic exercise can be age defying by enhancing information processing speed and the ability to think flexibly. The key to brain growth is neuroplasticity, and there is ample research indicating that adults who are physically fit can better process information and improve their memory skills. There is further overwhelming evidence that exercise enriches cognitive functioning, self-esteem, and sleep quality. Exercise is also linked to changes in neurotransmitter systems, it facilitates molecular markers of neuroplasticity and promotes neurogenesis in both healthy and injured brains.

Do yourself a favor in 2015 and put into practice a moderate exercise program, at least three days a week for seniors.  You may also wish to purchase Drs. Weil and Small’s evidence-based The Healthy Brain Kit, which promotes a heart healthy diet, moderate exercise, stress reduction strategies, quality sleep hygiene and tips to improve attention and memory. Through the Table Tennis Charity Foundation, I encourage individuals of all ages to Cross Train Your Brain: Play Ping-Pong to bring awareness about scientifically valid brain training programs and neuroplasticity. Introducing that game at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay retirement community is already showing positive results.

Neuroscience has demonstrated that aerobic exercise improves brain function through a safe and fun activity. So if your goal is less stress and better brain function, let’s get moving right now! 

Dr. Sautter is a Board Certified Neuropsychologist at Hampton Roads Neuropsychology in Virginia Beach, is the Chair of the Table Tennis Charity Foundation and the Brain Fitness Director at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay.  He can be reached at DrSautter@TheMemoryClinic.com.