Michael Nasrallah

The Supernova Award is the highest individual honor that our company gives and each year. One individual on the leadership team at Homestead Hills is voted by their colleagues as the community’s Supernova based on an assortment of criteria. Each year during the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting, the winner is revealed and given a customized crystal award at the company’s formal Supernova Awards Evening. The criteria for voting is based on upholding our company’s mission to be caring professionals dedicated to quality services. Additionally, this individual will consistently deliver excellent customer service (to Members, families, and colleagues), lead positively with integrity, take accountability, put the team before themselves, and embody the company’s vision to create communities where people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

This year, we are proud to congratulate our Executive Chef, Michael Nasrallah, as the recipient of the 2021 Homestead Hills Supernova Award. This honor was bestowed at the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 5th at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida. Chef Michael makes our full-service dining program the best restaurant in town through his leadership and supervision of the culinary team, commitment to quality and diversity of food and compliance to local and state regulatory agency standards.

Chef Michael completed a Culinary Technology degree from Guilford Technical Community College. His career in food began working for a small catering company in Greensboro, North Carolina. Following that position, he spent a summer in Jacksonville, Florida running the food and beverage program for a summer camp before returning to Winston-Salem to work at Graze, which was the restaurant in the Marriott Hotel. He started his career at Homestead Hills in 2017 as a Sous Chef and was quickly afforded the opportunity to be promoted to Executive Chef. More recently in 2021, Chef Michael became a Chef Mentor which gives him the honor of helping to on-board new Chefs within Senior Living Communities.

Outside of work, he loves being on my back porch and using his grill and smoker. Any spare time that he has he spends outside; walking, working in the garden, or just sitting around a fire pit with my family and friends. As a Chef, it’s inherent that he loves to cook. He believes that we are our truest selves when around a table with great food. Food is about more to him than just nourishment, it’s about being together, and it makes him happy to bring our community together in the restaurant at Homestead Hills.

Interview with 2021 Director of the Year, Michael Nasrallah

What’s a quote or inspirational words that influence/impact you?

“Always be learning when you stop learning you stop living.” – Culinary Instructor

Congratulations on being chosen as a Supernova! How do you feel?

Overwhelmed with support. The team I work with is the best in the company.

What’s your favorite part about your position?

Working with the Member for a party they are hosting. You get to learn a little bit more about their lives and what they love to eat. Food brings everyone together.

What do you want people to know about working in a retirement community?

This is the best kept secret in the Hospitality industry. If you are wanting great hours and want to cook amazing food. This is the place for you. Retirement doesn’t mean life is over. It means you get to have more fun, eating, drinking, and living the Weller Life.