Annual Summer Celebration a Hit with Over 600 Attendees
Beacon Hill at Eastgate welcomed all members of the community – residents, families, team members, and neighbors to enjoy music and curated culinary delights during its Summer Celebration, an annual culinary showcase and appreciation event featuring hand-held bites prepared by our talented team of chefs. The annual event took place Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 on the front lawn at Beacon Hill at Eastgate, with over 600 attendees.
Beacon Hill’s food truck, The Traveling Plate, was on-site as a part of several dining stations. The dining stations included:
Chicken Tinga Tostada
Cauliflower Tostada
Shrimp Ceviche Tostada
Smoked Turkey
Chopped Brisket
5 spiced wings
Beef Hot Dogs
Popcorn
Jalapeno Cornbread Parfait
Filipino Tocino “Nacho”
Veggie Cups
Melon Gazpacho
Garden Tomato Gazpacho
Asian Pear Chopped Salad
Seasoned Chips
Grilled BBQ Tofu
Johnny Cakes and Jerk Vegetables
Grilled Cabbage Slaw
Coconut Shrimp Skewer
Charred Fruit
Spicy Peanut Noodles
Asian Pear Chopped Salad
Seasoned Chips
Mac and Cheese
Baked Beans
Baby Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Praline
Corn Ribs
Asian Pear Chopped Salad
Seasoned Chips
Peach-Blueberry Cobbler
Beacon Hill has a strong commitment to local ingredients, relying on its half-acre community garden to supply produce for its imaginative and appetizing meals that are acclaimed by guests and visitors alike. When the Beacon Hill chefs can’t produce ingredients themselves, they source from local purveyors, such as AP Baked Goods, Field and Fire, Louise Earl Butcher and Rowsters.
Beacon Hill’s Summer Celebration has evolved from the original 1970’s Strawberry Festival — a fundraising event organized by the Women’s Auxiliary of Michigan Christian Home, the name under which Beacon Hill at Eastgate was originally established. The Strawberry Festival raised thousands of dollars for the retirement community through the sale of homemade strawberry shortcake, sundaes and other treats. Since then, the Strawberry Festival has shifted to a culinary showcase paid for by Beacon Hill to thank its residents, their loved ones and the community for their support.
“What started as a fundraiser organized by a small group of volunteers has blossomed into a community-favorite tradition that has brought together new and old friends for evenings full of great food and entertainment,” Edwards said. “Decades later, the Summer Celebration upholds the original event’s mission of using exceptional, homemade food to build community and enrich the lives of our residents and neighbors.”
