Exploring the food at The Oaks

With more than 850 meals served each day, the chefs at The Oaks of Louisiana take on the challenge of providing diverse, high-quality food options for residents.

The Oaks of Louisiana is an active adult lifestyle community for ages 55+ with an emphasis on healthy, active living. A part of this healthy living means eating healthy.

Co-executive chefs Cameron Wallace and Billy Wiethaupt said eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring as they strive to create beautiful, flavorful dishes daily.

“Meals at The Oaks reflect the vision of a very well-trained, very creative staff,” Heather Hudson, dining services/special events manager The Oaks, said. “Our staff is committed to providing delicious, wellbalanced, healthy meals, while keeping in mind the dietary needs, individual tastes and personal preferences of our residents.”

The Oaks of Louisiana is owned and operated by Willis-Knighton Health System.

Food services are available for residents in independent living, assisted living and total care at Tower at The Oaks, Garden Apartments at The Oaks, Savannah at The Oaks and the Health Center at Live Oak.

Every Wednesday, chefs Wallace and Wiethaupt create a new menu, sometimes adding the requests of residents for their favorite food or dish. Although the chefs stay away from a standard rotating menu, Fried Chicken Wednesdays and Fried Fish Friday are here to stay, per the resident’s wishes. The new menu is available on the following Friday for residents to know the planned meal options for the upcoming week.

“We try to offer food that is comparable to food you can get around this town and other towns,” Wallace said. “The residents could leave to eat, they don’t have to eat here, but they choose to because the food is good.”

With most residents partaking in on average two meals daily, the chefs like to keep the options exciting. “We add diversity to each meal,” Wiethaupt said. “If you go an Italian restaurant you’re going to get Italian food every day. We don’t do that. We cook Mexican, Asian, Southern foods and more.”

The menus offer choices of appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages that make up a well-balanced meal. For added health consciousness, the chefs always add “Heart Smart” dishes to the menu. They also use the freshest and most natural ingredients possible.

“People love our quesadillas and our pizzas. We make the dough in house by scratch,” Wiethaupt said. “Everything we do is from scratch and we pride ourselves in that. We order herbs and produce daily, and fresh fish that’s only a day or two old.”

Residents living at The Oaks may cook for themselves in their apartments, but Terrie Roberts, assistant public relations manager, said many choose not to cook so often because of the quality and convenience of the dining services.

“If there’s something that residents want or a recipe that’s a tradition for them or they are missing because they aren’t cooking any longer, they are certainly welcome and do share with our chefs what they are craving or what they wish to have,” Roberts said. She said this is particularly true around holidays when residents share with the chefs their favorite family recipes from the past that are a special part of their memories.

Chefs Wallace and Wiethaupt find the resident’s feedback of the food served and suggestions for new dishes helpful to the improvement of service, and they regularly step out of the kitchen to talk to the residents personally. “It’s cool to get to spend time with the residents,” Wiethaupt said. “You talk to everyone. They make you laugh, you make them laugh. They’re like a second family.”

The Oaks has various dining areas for residents and for their families and friends.

“We have casual eating in the bistro, the Lakeview Dining is where residents eat every day,” Roberts said. “The Oak Room is fine dining that’s very upscale. The presentation is incredible. It’s as pretty as it is tasty.” At The Tower at The Oaks there is also Grumpy’s Pub and a smaller private dining room.

Residents may enlist in the any of the various food plan programs available at The Oaks.

–Tiana Kennell

Learn More:

The oaks of Louisiana is located at 600 east Flournoy Lucas road in Shreveport. For more information about living at The oaks of Louisiana, visit www.theoaksofla.com or call 212-oaKS (6257).