Chef Estevan Ruiz helps wow residents of Gallery at Spokane

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

With a name like “The Gallery at Spokane,” you might expect an art venue – but it’s a senior living community. And according to residents, the dining experience there, led by Chef Estevan Ruiz, rivals that of upscale local restaurants.

 

Meet the Chef: Estevan Ruiz

The community intentionally showcases art on the walls as part of its culture, so Chef Ruiz matches the art-gallery feel of the building to the food he creates. “We elevate the food from the plate,” he said.

Thanks to his strong catering background, he loves to wow people with cuisine featuring big buffets and extravagant fruit displays, proving to residents how much above and beyond The Gallery kitchen takes their expectations. “Spring and summer give us opportunities to set up outside with locally sourced, fresh produce buffets,” Chef said. These nutritious and energy-enhancing spring superfoods keep seniors feeling their best. Residents compare the feasts to being on a cruise.

An “always available” menu ensures freshness at the community and prevents excess food waste. Chef said, “We analyze the health benefits of food from top to bottom – from the amount of sodium to the nutritional value of adding things like root vegetables in everything we make.”

 

Most Importantly, The Gallery Is a Scratch Kitchen

“Everything’s high end. We don’t take shortcuts,” he added. “We make our own sauces, salads and soups every day … everything’s from scratch,” Chef said. “We try to provide residents with a casual, fine dining experience blended with a comfort food aspect, taking dishes like lasagna and chicken fried steak and elevating them.”

 

The Sky’s the Limit

The support Chef Ruiz receives from management is the best part of his creative role. “The sky’s the limit. I have no ceiling. I am empowered with the creative freedom to cook what I choose. The atmosphere and the culture are what is most important to me,” Chef said. “The environment is very uplifting – everybody, from the residents to my crew, loves to be here. My cooks have traveled with me to various dining venues through my career years and stayed with me. Most have been with me five to eight years.”

The level of familiarity of having a long-term waitstaff and kitchen staff adds to the peace of mind residents enjoy at The Gallery. The chef said the younger cooks bring energy and new ideas to the table. The menu changes seasonally so it’s kept fresh and appealing. Recent big hits included a roasted New York strip steak with grilled shrimp and avocado chimichurri; homestyle, from-scratch chicken pot pie; and chicken marsala.

The talented chef has come a long way from grilling cheese sandwiches as a kid and selling them to his brother’s friends. A lifelong culinary learner, Chef Ruiz cooked at Eastern Washington University, worked as a caterer, apprenticed under Chef Frank Comito at the Spokane Country Club and held another university chef position funded by a grant that was focused on reducing sodium in food.

 

Rock Star Status

What’s it like working with seniors? Chef Ruiz said he loves how honest they are. “They’ll tell me their wedding rings are fitting looser now, and I know that’s because of my low-sodium meals.” The compliments he receives from diners make his day, he added. “I feel like a famous rock star, without being famous.”

 

Come to our Meet the Chef event and enjoy a sampling of Chef Ruiz creations.
Monday, May 5 at 3 p.m.
RSVP: (509) 384-3544

The Gallery at Spokane
A Stellar Senior Living Community
5401 S. Regal St., Spokane, WA 99223
(509) 384-3544
stellarliving.com/the-gallery-spokane