An elderly woman eating soup sitting at a table in the house.

Aspen Chef awarded contract to provide senior meals in eastern Garfield County

PRESS RELEASE
February 10, 2022

Garfield County has awarded a contract to Aspen Chef to provide lunches for seniors in eastern end of the county. The senior meals program had suspended its lunches on Jan. 20 in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, while a new catering option was sought. The contract starts on Feb. 21, 2022, and new meals services are slated to begin the following day, Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Aspen Chef, which is owned and operated out of Basalt by Chef Alan Kokish, has prior experience providing senior meals to both Eagle and Pitkin counties. The contract to provide meals is not to exceed $47,500 and runs through June 2022, at which time it can be renewed for two additional one-year terms. The program is funded by a federal grant from the Area Agency on Aging, Garfield County, contributions from local entities, and donations from participants.

“We’re very excited to be working with Alan, who’s is going to be a great partner, and to be resuming our in-person meals at all sites in Garfield County,” said Garfield County Senior Programs Manager Judy Martin. “He’s worked with both Eagle and Pitkin counties preparing the same kind of meals; Alan’s a very innovative chef and the seniors at both of those locations loved his meals. We’re looking forward to share in his wonderful cuisine.”

The meals are scheduled to be served in Glenwood Springs on Tuesdays and Fridays at both Sunnyside Retirement Center, 601 21st Street, and Colorado Mountain College, 1402 Blake Street, in the Lucy Huntley Senior Center. Meals are also being provided at The Orchard Church, 110 Snowmass Drive, in Carbondale on Wednesdays.

Anyone looking to make a reservation for congregate meals can call the Garfield County Senior Programs food line at (970) 665-0041. All meals are served at noon and menus can be found online at garfield-county.com/human-services/senior-menu/.

According to the proposal, Kokish has worked as a chef in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1992 and has provided similar meals services for Eagle County for the past four years. He’s also recently filled in preparing meals for seniors in Pitkin County while the chef there was out recovering from surgery. Both Eagle County Healthy Aging and Pitkin County Senior Services submitted a letters of recommendation to Garfield County in support of Kokish.

“Alan has taken into special consideration this older adult population, as he plans the meals a month in advance,” the Eagle County support letter read. “Meals include tender meats or fish, healthy vegetables and salads, soft breads, and of course, a small dessert. Alan has stated that this catering opportunity is a way for him to ‘give back to the community.’”

“Our partnership with Alan was very successful and we received many comments of praise and thanks from our clients,” wrote Chad Federwitz, manager of Pitkin County Senior Services in its letter of recommendation. “I would strongly recommend Alan and his team for assisting with the nutritional needs of older adults in Garfield County.”

The contract was approved by the Board of County Commissioners unanimously in its consent agenda, 3-0.

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