Public invited to watch Round 2 competition featuring standout culinary leaders
BRENTWOOD, TN — April 20, 2026 — Excitement is building in Brentwood as Morning Pointe Senior Living prepares to welcome the community next week for Round 2: Regional Selection of its 2026 Top Chef Challenge. This live, high-energy cook-off invites the public to experience the creativity, skill, and heart behind Morning Pointe’s dining teams as standout Food Service Directors compete for a place in the finals.
The live cook-off will take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 5:00 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Brentwood Assisted Living. The event is open to the public and will spotlight regional Food Service Directors as they compete for a spot in the 2026 Morning Pointe Senior Living Top Chef Challenge finals.
The Top Chef Challenge is designed to celebrate the talent, heart, and everyday impact of Morning Pointe Senior Living’s dining teams. While the competition brings excitement, it also reflects something deeper: the thoughtful dining experiences residents enjoy every day across Morning Pointe Senior Living communities.
“This event is always a highlight because it brings together creativity, passion, and purpose,” said Justin Leiter, Director of Dining Operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living. “Our Food Service Directors don’t just cook, they create meaningful dining experiences that our residents look forward to every day. The Top Chef Challenge gives us a chance to celebrate that in a really special way.”
Competing in the Brentwood regional round are Jamie Rutherford of Morning Pointe of Spring Hill Assisted Living, Eric Harshfield of Morning Pointe of Louisville Assisted Living, and Caletta Alsup of Morning Pointe of Brentwood Assisted Living.
Dishes will be judged by a panel of culinary and food media professionals, including Jill Melton, founder, editor, and publisher of Edible Nashville; Alex Belew, award-winning culinary innovator and Hell’s Kitchen champion; and Zachary Fisher, chef with the Nashville Culinary Program.
Judges will evaluate each dish based on taste and texture, presentation and creativity, nutrition and balance, resident appeal, cost and feasibility, story and inspiration, and cleanliness and professionalism.
More than a culinary showdown, the event offers guests a closer look at the scratch cooking and resident-focused dining philosophy that are part of daily life at Morning Pointe Senior Living.
The community is located at 1522 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN 37027.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states, including AL, GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
