Let the sunshine in! Welcome to the open kitchen at Aveo Lindsay Gardens

Whipping up hearty Aussie fare in club kitchens up and down the Sunshine Coast across his 22 year career, Chef Mark Turley has always had a passion for community cooking. We sit down with Mark and find out why taking on the role of Chef Manager at Lindsay Gardens is his most rewarding career move yet.

So what was the draw card to Aveo Lindsay Gardens?

Definitely the people. The best part of the position is getting to know the residents and building genuine friendships.

We have an open kitchen on site and residents often drop by to say hello and to tell you how much they enjoyed their meal – and sometimes just to say goodnight to the kitchen staff! The open kitchen fosters real relationships and I love that.

What’s on the menu at Aveo Lindsay Gardens?

We like to keep it interesting so it changes frequently. We make sure that we shape what’s on the menu to the season and availability of ingredients, not to mention special requests from our residents!

On the whole we have a mix between old and new favourites. Our Braised Steak, Steak & Kidney, Lamb’s Fry and Sausages are things that regularly appear on the menu.

We then throw in some fan favourites like Garlic Cream Prawns and Salmon. Our prawn dish always flies out of the kitchen!

As for desserts, I make sure Creamed Rice, Lemon Delicious, Cheesecake, Panna Cotta and the ever-popular Sago are always included.

Could you tell us a memorable story from your time at Lindsay Gardens?

We cater for a number of theme days, which are always a ball! Recently we did a 50’s American Diner theme.

There was 50’s and 60’s music blasting from the bar. The residents loved it.

Any words of wisdom for aspiring chefs?

Be prepared. You’ve got to be willing to work hard and dedicate yourself to your role. The hours can be challenging but the hard work pays off.

How amazing does it sound to have Chef Mark taking care of all your meals? Excellent cuisine is one of the reasons Aveo community members are glad they took the step to great retirement living. If you’re thinking about taking the First Step, have a chat with one of our consultants, or follow the link below to find out more about starting your dream retirement!