Culinary Competition Features Chefs from Around the World

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 11, 2010 - With culinary competitions among the most popular events in America, one
of the world's leading senior housing providers is hosting an intense cooking
competition among its culinary talent to crown Ultimate Chef America.

The competition is produced by Brookdale Senior Living and its Culinary
Arts Institute, a professional development program for its chefs; however, a
closer look at Ultimate Chef America reveals the amazing culinary talent from
around the world.

Competing chefs were carefully selected from communities across the
United States, many who have their roots in countries like Brazil and
Thailand, Sweden and Tanzania. In all, Brookdale culinary talent hails from
more than forty countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa
and Asia.

To seniors, food is much more than a source of nutrition; enjoying
healthy and flavorful meals are all part of living an Optimum Life.
Delivering on that is a constant challenge, which is why this competition and
the overall cultural mix of its chefs is so important.

"Because our chefs hail from all over the world their culinary creations
represent an intriguing fusion of styles, flavors and textures," said Joska
Hajdu, Brookdale's Senior Vice President of Dining Services. Brookdale chefs
prepare more than 130,000 meals per day.

"Cooking for seniors is a unique challenge because the sense of taste
diminishes with age," said Hajdu. "The difficulty in satisfying the sense of
taste is compounded by the desire to minimize use of salt, fat, and sugar,
due to the effects of those ingredients on common diseases such as diabetes,
high blood pressure and heart disease."

The Ultimate Chef America tour also features gourmet food tastings, wine
and seasoning seminars. Also, a "Food for the Soul" seminar is presented by
renowned geriatrician, Dr. Kevin O'Neil, and focuses on the natural healing
powers of food.

In addition, Brookdale residents have created food inspired art for the
event's silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the Leeza Gibbons Memory
Foundation, joining Brookdale in its continued fight against Alzheimer's
disease.

"Ultimate Chef America represents an exciting line up that delivers the
excitement of competition, the flavor of excellent food, the opportunity to
learn, and a venue for supporting a worthy cause," said Hajdu. For more
information about Ultimate Chef America, visit
www.ultimatechefamerica.com.

Contact: Holly Botsford, +1-414-918-5314, hbotsford@brookdaleliving.com

Holly Botsford, +1-414-918-5314, hbotsford at brookdaleliving.com