CULINARY SERVICES at WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES
One Team, One Mission
“Wow at every meal, every day.”
W
hen Sharon Habanec, Vice President of Culinary Services at Willow Valley Communities, talks about her team, she beams with pride. Sharon started at Willow Valley Communities in 1986 as a parttime hostess at the Lakes. “My family had just moved to Lancaster shortly after my daughter was born and I was looking for an opportunity to interact with adults,” Sharon explains. That part-time position turned into a full-time passion for Sharon. “The opportunities were there for me year after year, and Willow Valley Communities appreciated and cultivated my talents. I love the atmosphere here and I love our residents,” she added. Surprisingly, Sharon says she is not a foodie. “Of course I love food, but I leave the recipe building and cooking up to the experts on our culinary team. My true passion is team development. Identifying and nurturing the skills and abilities on the team has allowed us to develop a robust culinary program and a top-notch service team,” Sharon said. With a department of 500 team members, Sharon has the ability to allow them to go as far as they want. Eight chefs and three sous chefs oversee the kitchens and manage the culinary offerings at each community. An additional five managers and 20 supervisors manage day-to-day operations and team member scheduling and training. “We strive for a high level of excellence at Willow Valley Communities, and that certainly includes our culinary offering,” Sharon stated.
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Fall 2019
With more than 2,500 residents at Willow Valley Communities, Sharon and her team are busy. Eleven culinary venues at Willow Valley Communities, including those in the residential and supportive living buildings, serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner 365 days a year. The team operates two cafés and coffee shops, including Marketplace and Vitality Café on the Lakes campus, The Overlook Artisanal Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, and The Clubhouse Café and Ice Cream Parlor on the Manor campus. In addition, the team manages two fine dining venues: Four Seasons at Spring Run, and Willow Valley Communities’ full-service gourmet restaurant, Local Table, located in The Clubhouse. Additionally, the team is in charge of the food and beverage offerings at The VUE, the exciting rooftop lounge at The Vistas community. It also oversees Corner Sweets, Willow Valley Communities’ demonstration bakery located in the North community. Less widely known is the production kitchen that has been in operation for
