Explore the Dining Experience at Otterbein Cridersville

Since we spend more than an hour each day eating, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s important to enjoy our mealtimes. 

That’s why Otterbein SeniorLife Cridersville has recently renovated and re-opened its signature dining room, the Red Oak Café, to the delight of residents.

Learn more about the new space and updated menu options in the blog below.

What's New at the Red Oak Cafe?

Work on the updated dining space began in December 2018, according to Shannon Weldon, Director of Culinary Services at Cridersville. The goal was to update the space and offer a few new menu items to go along with the new experience.

Weldon said there’s now additional seating, more natural light, and an open-concept layout: “Now it’s bright and has a lot more light coming in. It just looks a lot more up-to-date.”

On the Menu

Cridersville residents can also enjoy new menu additions as well as old favorites like fettuccine alfredo, chicken marsala, and Philly cheesesteak. 

Weldon says they’ve served new options like lamb and meatless dinners, but the most popular so far has been the Caribbean mango pork and tropical rice.

“At first, some residents were skeptical to try some of the dishes, but we offered little samples. And then the next time they came around, everyone was willing to try them,” she said. “They keep asking for variety, so we try to give them a little more variety.”

New Look, Same Service

Residents can stop by the café for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also “grab and go” options – like sandwiches, salads, and fruit - for residents who want a quick bite, as well as meal delivery to residents’ homes.

Residents also continue to enjoy the restaurant-style dining that’s been updated across all Otterbein locations. Each resident has a server who brings individual dishes out to them. That’s a big difference from many other senior living communities, where residents still go through a line to get their food. 

Weldon noted residents have been excited about the changes: “We’ve had great feedback,” she said.

And last, but certainly not least, residents can enjoy an enhanced sweet ending to their dining experience: There’s now a dessert cart with delicious options to enjoy post-meal. 

Why Food is Important at Otterbein

Meals do more than just satisfy our hunger; they are important social and cultural opportunities. They are also opportunities to chat with friends, share stories, and reminisce on other meals from years gone by. In short, having enjoyable meals is a key part of our well-being. 

At Otterbein, wellness isn’t just physical. It includes nine different degrees to form what we call complete wellness. The degrees are:

• Physical
• Environmental
• Social
• Intellectual
• Cultural
• Emotional
• Vocational
• Spiritual
• Creative

Throughout Otterbein’s 107-year history, we’ve ensured that residents can fulfill each piece of the wellness puzzle, whether they’re in independent living or skilled nursing. 

In fact, complete wellness is so important to us that we’ve written a guide to how we do it here at Otterbein. Curious to learn more? 

Download your free copy of the guide to see how we help residents cultivate healthy minds, bodies, and spirits. You’ll also get tips for implementing complete wellness right now in your daily life.