New Pond Village’s Lacey Rainey Recognized with National Award

Our Chef Honored for Culinary Excellence

Chef Lacey Rainey, our dynamic food and beverage director at New Pond Village, has been honored for her creativity and commitment to excellence by a national senior living publication. WTWH Healthcare has named Lacey to its DISHED Senior Living Dining Innovation Awards inaugural Class of 2025. She was recognized as a “Palate Pleaser” for her innovation in menu creation, use of ingredients and culinary techniques.

A Visionary in Senior Living Dining

The DISHED awards recognize visionaries who are transforming senior living dining. Since joining our community in 2023, Lacey has brought a passion for not only good food but also memorable moments. With her infectious energy, she has invigorated our food and beverage team and elevated the overall dining experience for residents and staff alike.

A Leader Who Inspires

“We’re so fortunate to have Lacey on our team,” said our Campus Executive Director, Adam Manchester. “She loves what she does and that comes through in the relationships she’s built with her team and our residents. Whether she’s introducing an exotic dish or collaborating on a resident’s family recipe, Lacey makes dining one of the highlights of living and working at New Pond Village.”

Adventurous Menus, Memorable Meals

In her time with us, Lacey has introduced exciting menu items like honey and fig-glazed salmon with parmesan risotto, seared duck with lavender honey, and Vietnamese pho and bao buns. “Residents at New Pond are adventurous—more so than I’ve been used to in senior living,” she says.

Culinary Roots and a Purpose-Driven Mission

Educated at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, Lacey previously worked at the historic Deerfield Inn in Western Massachusetts before transitioning into senior living. She emphasizes fresh, preservative-free ingredients and scratch-made recipes that create meaningful experiences. “My chefs and I can create something that brings back memories,” she says. “Every meal we cook here makes a difference—it means a lot more than cooking anywhere else.”

Part of a Community of Innovators

WTWH Healthcare, the publisher of Senior Housing News, recognized 38 senior living dining innovators across five categories in this inaugural class. In addition to Lacey, three other dining professionals from Benchmark Senior Living communities were also honored—something we’re proud to celebrate as part of the larger Benchmark family.