'It's a Vocation,' Says Dakota Scaletta, New Dining Director for The Grandview

Dakota Scaletta was in middle school when her mother went back to college. Realizing that her mom would be busy with classes and homework, she stepped up to help cook meals for her family.

"I really loved making food for my family," Scaletta says.

While most of her friends worked in coffee shops or retail stores, Scaletta's first job was at a seafood market in Potomac, Md.

"At 15 years old, I was a fishmonger at a seafood market, cleaning and filleting fish, deveining shrimp, and cleaning soft-shelled crabs and lobsters," she recalls.

These early experiences launched her love for the culinary arts, which she's now pursuing as dining director at The Grandview, an Erickson Senior Living community in Bethesda, Md.

"I knew that I wanted to go to culinary school when I finished high school," notes Scaletta.

After earning an associate's degree in culinary arts from the Art Institute of Washington and a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from the University of South Carolina, Scaletta went into catering and event sales for hotels.

But she missed utilizing her creativity in the kitchen.

Culinary creativity

"One day, a previous boss reached out to me to inquire if I knew anyone who'd be interested in the assistant dining director position at Greenspring, [an Erickson Senior Living community in Springfield, Va.] I said, 'Yes, me!'" she recalls, with a laugh.

Scaletta notes that her grandparents lived at Riderwood, an Erickson Senior Living community in Silver Spring, Md., so she was excited to join the team. She has since worked at multiple Erickson communities, most recently as the dining director at Oak Crest in Parkville, Md.

"Working at Erickson creates such a sense of appreciation and understanding of the residents. I love having the opportunity to connect and learn from them," says Scaletta. "My former boss told me that this isn't just a job--it's a vocation. I truly do believe that. It's a very rewarding business to work in."

"I love cooking because that's my love language--how I take care of people," she says. "I show my love by providing food that nourishes the mind, body, and soul."

As a result, Scaletta has invested time in learning what residents of The Grandview prefer to eat, so she can best serve them in their new home.

Elevated regional cuisine

"Many residents are from the Washington, D.C. area, where you can go to an Indian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and a Thai restaurant--all on the same block, in the same week--so we knew we would be offering dishes with international influences," explains Scaletta. "And of course, being in Maryland, we wanted to specialize in seafood dishes."

She adds, "Residents are also accustomed to having a Michelin-star restaurant nearby, so we want to provide a five-star dining experience at The Grandview."

Comfort classics and casual fare are also available at The Grandview's three unique restaurants:

Crescent Overlook, on The Grandview's main level, features an innovative menu and natural decor that honors the lush, seven-mile Capital Crescent Trail from Washington, D.C., to Bethesda.

Named after the beautiful avenue connecting Bethesda to our nation's capital, West of Wisconsin pairs modern, fast-casual dining with the rich history of our region's thoroughfare.

Fourteen stories above ground level, The View at 140th offers stunning sights of Bethesda. Residents can enjoy indoor and outdoor dining areas, complete with a stylish rooftop wine bar.

Even after dishing up delectable entrees at The Grandview, Scaletta will come home and cook dinner for her and her husband. "I decompress by making dinner," she says. "It's one of my favorite things."

Scaletta and her husband stay busy with their dog and two cats. They also enjoy winter sports. "We really love to ski and snowboard!" she says.

Not surprisingly, she adds, "We also love to travel, and when we do, I research restaurants and plan the vacation completely around food."

To learn more about the top-notch dining experience at The Grandview, request more information today.

By Gregory J. Alexander