[Updated: August 24, 2026 | Published: August 7, 2026]
Delicious. Creative. Memorable. Elegant. Just a few of the words used to describe the dining experience provided by the Culinary team at Friendship Village of Dublin. Now, they proudly claim the title “award-winning”.
Competing against nearly 30 restaurants at the 2026 Taste of New Albany event, the team earned the competition’s highest honor, Best in Taste, for its Montaraz Ibérico Pork Loin with Mojo Verde and Romesco Sauce. The honor places Friendship Village of Dublin alongside some of central Ohio’s most recognized restaurant brands and showcases the exceptional dining experience residents enjoy every day.
The Menu at a Glance
Award: Best in Taste (top award)
Event: 2026 Taste of New Albany
Winner: Friendship Village of Dublin Culinary Team
Winning Dish: Montaraz Ibérico Pork Loin with Mojo Verde and Romesco Sauce
Competition: Nearly 30 participating food vendors and restaurants
While many attendees expected traditional restaurants to take home the top prize, Friendship Village of Dublin’s culinary team demonstrated that a senior living community can deliver a dining experience comparable to highly-rated restaurants in central Ohio.
The recognition has created excitement throughout the community, according to Nicole Merando, Director of Culinary Services.
“This week, we’ve kind of been just like on cloud nine,” said Merando. “We feel really good about ourselves and have enjoyed being able to share it with the residents too. To see how excited they were [to hear that we won], it feels pretty great.”
A small but mighty team represented Friendship Village of Dublin, bringing years of culinary expertise and a carefully crafted dish designed to showcase both creativity and technique. Their efforts resonated with both attendees and judges, ultimately earning Friendship Village of Dublin the event’s highest honor, Best in Taste.
“It felt really good. We definitely just went there to have fun, but winning really makes you feel proud of it,” said executive sous chef,. “We’re proud that we can compete with the group of people that were there.”
This Award-Winning Dish Earned Best in Taste Recognition
The dish that caught the attention and captured the judges’ votes was a Montaraz Ibérico Pork Loin with Mojo Verde and Romesco Sauce. Behind the award-winning dish is a story of premium ingredients, Spanish culinary inspiration, and careful preparation.
Jim Bline explained that the meat for the dish is an Ibérico pork, a world-famous gourmet meat known for its rich marbling and nutty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It comes from a special breed of hog that can only be found in Spain, is humanely raised, and is fed a special diet to ensure the best quality.
“It’s like the Wagyu of pork, basically, buttery and fatty. It cooks very nicely and is very tender,” said Bline.
The Spanish-inspired dish paired the premium pork with a Romesco sauce featuring roasted red peppers, almonds, and sun-dried tomatoes, complemented by a bright Mojo Verde sauce made with cilantro, olive oil, and sherry vinegar. Chef Bline mentioned that since this was a special dish for competition, he made a unique “off-site” addition of serrano pepper for some added heat.
“It was delicious. I mean, it melted in your mouth. It was so good. The sauces mixed together were a great touch,” said Merando.
How Friendship Village of Dublin Won Against Top Restaurants
Taste of New Albany brought in nearly 30 restaurants and more than 1,000 attendees. The competition included a host of Cameron Mitchell-owned brands, such as Hudson 29, Cap City Gahanna, and Del Mar, and featured a range of cuisines, including barbecue, sweet desserts, American grill, and sushi.
With big names and well-known chains surrounding them, the team turned to Chef Bline, a veteran of culinary competition, for the winning strategy. Having participated in and won multiple events similar to Taste of New Albany, Chef Bline drew on his experience and a skilled team to “keep it simple”. He shared that overthinking your dish selection and going over the top doesn’t always yield the best result; sometimes the simplest creations are the ones that win and get the most attention.
What the Award Means for Senior Living Dining at FVD
Residents at Friendship Village of Dublin, central Ohio’s premier senior living community, experience this level of culinary excellence every day through the community’s award-winning dining program. Being one of multiple senior living communities at Taste of New Albany and winning Best in Taste now puts a spotlight on the standout dining experience that is available to FVD residents, staff, and visitors day in and day out.
It also recognizes the thoughtful leadership, skill, creativity, and dedication to quality maintained by the FVD Culinary staff. Merando and Bline are already seeking more opportunities to showcase the team’s talents at future area competitions while also serving its most important clientele: their residents.
“Now knowing what we’re capable of and having the ideas of what more we want to do, we’ll go into [future events] with a mindset of wanting to win,” said Merando.
The award further reinforces Friendship Village of Dublin’s reputation for providing an exceptional senior living dining experience and one of central Ohio’s most respected culinary programs.
To learn more about Friendship Village of Dublin’s award-winning senior living dining experience, visit www.FVDublin.org and explore Dining Experiences.
Friendship Village of Dublin Awards Record 36 Scholarships, Investing $144,000 into the Dreams of Future Leaders
[Updated: August 18, 2026 | Published: August 17, 2026] Friendship…
