Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

SunnyBrook inspired by pork
Until four years ago, Kumar Wickramasingha was executive
chef and owner of Alpha’s on the Riverfront in Fort
Madison. In 2008, he made a career change and is now
director of public relations for SunnyBrook Assisted Living
Communities, with eight locations throughout Iowa.
As a past winner of the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s
Taste of Elegance competition, Wickramasingha always
included a variety of pork dishes in his restaurant fare,
and he is excited now to share his love of pork products
with the SunnyBrook residents.
Wickramasingha recently announced a new culinary event
at SunnyBrook. A cook-off is being held bi-monthly on a
rotating basis at the company’s locations and is a friendly
competition among the SunnyBrook chefs.
Through his association with the residents,
Wickramasingha has learned that pork dishes are
among their favorite meals because many of them
grew up on Iowa farms. Wanting to introduce the
pork industry’s new “Pork® Be Inspired SM brand to the
residents and guests, it was decided that the theme of
February’s cooking contest event would be pork.
Chefs from six SunnyBrook Assisted Living
Communities participated at Fort Madison in the
Sunnybrook chefs competing in the pork cook-off (from left)
were Toby Cluney, Burlington; Stephanie Watson, Fairfield:
Dominick DeLeon, Muscatine; Kendra Husbond, Muscatine;
Sarah Martin, Mt. Pleasant; Linda Borkowski, Carroll;
and Tom Bryant, Fort Madison.
cooking contest. The entrees included Island Pork
Tenderloin Salad, Burlington; Pork Cutlets, Carroll;
Shredded Pork Croissants, Fairfield; Hawaiian Ribs, Fort
Madison; Mediterranean Pork Loin, Mt. Pleasant; and
Pork Shanks with Gravy, Muscatine.
First place and the People’s Choice awards both went to
Tom Bryant of Fort Madison. Residents and guests alike
enjoyed the creative variety of pork dishes.
Wickramasingha is a current member of the IPPA
Restaurant and Foodservice Committee.
Assisted living residents enjoy a pork meal.
48 March 2012