Edgemere offers the pinnacle of luxurious Preston Hollow living. With beautifully designed residences and vibrant programming set on a resort-like boutique estate, daily life at the distinguished senior living community in Dallas feels both refined and relaxed. Dining plays a central role in that experience. Instead of worrying about grocery shopping, cooking, or cleaning up, residents can simply choose where and how they want to dine — from dressing up for an evening of fine dining at Medici to grabbing something casual between activities at Portabella Cafe to enjoying quick bites at The Bottega.
Across multiple venues, Edgemere’s culinary team creates exceptional chef-prepared meals that are both refined and approachable.
Executive Chef Jamaal Baty sees his mission as more than cooking, understanding that dining is a central part of the community’s commitment to white-glove service in all things. He also focuses on hospitality, relationship-building, and the kind of listening that turns feedback into ever-improving meals and menus, knowing that Edgemere is where Dallas’s most accomplished individuals choose to live their retirement.
Three venues that match how you want to live
One of the reasons dining stands out at Edgemere is flexibility. Residents can choose from several distinct dining experiences on campus.
Medici is the formal restaurant, designed for
those evenings when you want a traditional fine dining experience with an “ever-evolving” gourmet menu.
Portabella Cafe is the casual, open-kitchen cafe and grill, serving quick meals, like pizza, sandwiches, salads, and other less formal favorites.
The Bottega adds another easygoing option, described as a casual, made-to-order venue designed for residents who are on the move.
That variety matters, because as Baty put it, residents may enjoy the “fancy stuff,” but they also want familiar comfort foods and the freedom to keep things simple when they feel like it.
The calendar moves fast, and so does the kitchen
If you think February is a quiet month, Baty will happily correct you.
In one recent stretch, the culinary team provided delicious, upscale fare for Galentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day, several brunches, a Mardi Gras celebration, and Lunar New Year, and then rolled directly into a community-wide chili cook-off — all on top of regular dining service.
Baty is proud of his team’s comprehensive planning process that starts with meetings and continues with “deep research” that looks at what worked in the past, what did not, and what residents have been asking for. That blend of thinking ahead and responsiveness is how Edgemere keeps events feeling fresh without losing what residents love.
Resident feedback shapes what comes next
Baty is candid about the fact that no chef gets it perfect every time, but he is equally clear about what happens when residents speak up.
At last year’s Galentine’s event, the team served rack of lamb and halibut. This year, the menu shifted to prime rib and butter-poached salmon, including New Zealand King salmon that he described as visually stunning. The reaction was positive, but residents told him the menu felt “a little too heavy,” and they asked for lighter fare next time. That note matters. The takeaway was not defensive. It was practical. Next year, he is already thinking more in the direction of salads and small bites, because listening is part of the mission, and “this is their home.”
Holiday you’ll look forward to
The holiday menus Baty creates are the kind that make people mark their calendars.
For Valentine’s Day, the team executed a plated dinner for more than 200 people with tenderloin, halibut, and a “beautiful plate” built for the occasion. A detail residents especially loved was a pink mashed potato made with beet puree, giving it color without relying on artificial dyes.
For Mardi Gras, the kitchen leaned into traditional southern favorites with shrimp etouffee with crawfish, fried catfish, smothered chicken, greens, and ambrosia salad.
For Lunar New Year, the team went bold with beef stir fry, sesame chicken, bang bang shrimp, tuna rice rolls in rice paper with vegetables and chili sauce, egg rolls, spring rolls, and Asian-style ribs.
Comfort food is not a compromise
When Baty talks about trends, he comes back to something simple. Residents want comfort. That does not mean boring. It means familiar favorites made well, in a beautiful setting.
In Medici, that can still mean fine dining. But residents also ask for “more down-home food,” like meatloaf, chicken or shrimp Alfredo, and big, satisfying salads with protein. Rather than seeing that as a step down, Baty treats it as another way to deliver hospitality. Sometimes the most luxurious thing is the exact meal you were hoping for.
Seafood that residents trust
One area where Edgemere consistently aims high is seafood, with a program centered on quality and reliable sourcing, with a focus on great fish served in ways residents enjoy.
He also shared how closely residents pay attention. When the kitchen temporarily switched salmon sources due to supply limitations, residents quickly noticed and offered direct feedback. That led to a new solution that residents rave about: a farmed salmon selected for flavor, texture, and consistency, and also for features like antibiotic-free farming.
Sunday brunch and the joy of family at the table
Brunch at Edgemere is not just a meal. It’s a beloved tradition.
Baty described Sundays as a time when families come in, kids and grandkids fill the room, and the dining venue itself adds to the experience. That connection matters. He sees the relationships forming not only with residents but with the families who visit often enough that the culinary team recognizes them, welcomes them back, and watches those family stories unfold over time.
He also hears a refrain that never gets old. Families tell him they chose Edgemere because the food was so good. For Baty, that is the kind of trust you feel in your chest, because it means families know their loved ones are being served with attention and pride.
Your partner in entertaining
Dining at Edgemere also extends beyond the main venues. Baty shared that the team regularly supports resident celebrations, from intimate gatherings of five to 12 people to mid-sized parties of 30 to 45. Some are hosted in private spaces like the wine room, while others may take place in larger venues depending on the occasion.
It all begins the same way, with a conversation about what the resident wants, followed by menu ideas, budgeting, and then “creating the magic” when the day arrives.
A kitchen that makes room for everyone
Finally, the culinary team works hard to accommodate dietary needs so residents do not feel left out. Baty noted how far gluten-free options have come, and how the kitchen now has choices like gluten-free buns and wraps, plus scrumptious cauliflower crust pizzas, so residents with restrictions can still enjoy the foods they want.
Discover How Delicious Life at Edgemere Can Be
Baty’s approach is simple and refreshing. Give residents what they love. Introduce new dishes in a way that feels welcoming. Celebrate often. And never forget that the table is one of the most important places in any community.
If you’re searching for a senior living community where superior hospitality and delicious dining are woven seamlessly into everyday life, we invite you to experience Edgemere for yourself. Visit EdgemereLife.com or call 214-265-9100 to schedule a personal tour.