Peconic Landing becomes second senior living community in nation to earn Slow Food honor

Peconic Landing has earned a national honor for the food on its tables — and on Tuesday, residents celebrated with a spread that made the point better than any award could.

Dozens gathered in the Greenport retirement community’s dining hall for a reception that included fresh clams and oysters, escargot puffs, a potato station and local wine. At the center of the buffet stood a snail carved from ice.

The event toasted Peconic Landing for becoming only the second senior living community in the country to receive Slow Food’s prestigious Snail of Approval.

The award, presented by Slow Food East End, recognizes businesses and institutions that embrace the organization’s philosophy of food that is “good, clean and fair” — emphasizing fresh ingredients, sustainable sourcing and connections to local farms and fisheries.

“We live in a very agriculturally diverse area, and all of us who live here know this is special,” said Dr. Pennie Schwartz, board chair of Slow Food East End. “Along with that comes the opportunity and the privilege to make sure everyone has the right to eat good food.”

Led by activist Carlo Petrini, Slow Food gained international attention during protests over plans to open a McDonald’s near Rome’s Spanish Steps in 1986. The movement has since expanded worldwide, promoting sustainable agriculture and the preservation of regional food traditions.

“This award reflects something much bigger than dining,” said Eileen T. McGuire, board chair of Peconic Landing. “Slow Food’s principles are rooted in responsible stewardship, supporting the people who make our mission possible, and strengthening the communities we serve.”

Peconic Landing’s selection for the award was unanimous, according to Slow Food East End board member Ralph Reinertsen.

“When I came to eat here, it was incredible,” Mr. Reinertsen said. “One of the best write-ups, one of the best qualified groups that we’ve had. You should be extremely proud.”

The only other senior living community in the country to receive the distinction is in Colorado, he added.

Peconic Landing’s culinary program is led by Vice President of Dining Services Debra Foster and Executive Chef Jean Paul Hascoat. The dining team incorporates products from North Fork farms, fisheries and wineries into its menus.

Mr. Hascoat, who has spent more than two decades at Peconic Landing, earned national recognition of his own last year, receiving a Palate Pleaser Award from Senior Housing News for innovation in menu creation, ingredients and culinary techniques. Residents and staff nominated him for the honor.

But the Snail of Approval considers more than what’s on the plate. The program also weighs community involvement, employee support and responsible business practices.

Peconic Landing President and CEO Robert J. Syron, sporting a pink bow tie, drew laughs when he acknowledged just how tough the community’s food committee can be.

“This honor reflects our belief that food has the power to bring people together and strengthen communities,” Mr. Syron said, turning serious. “It also affirms our longstanding commitment to enriching the lives of our members while, at the same time, supporting the vitality of the East End.”

He also credited dining partner NexDine Hospitality for helping advance its culinary program.

The Slow Food honor is the latest in a series of national awards for Peconic Landing, a nonprofit retirement community serving residents 62 and older on a campus that stretches to Long Island Sound.

In February, Peconic Landing was named one of the top five senior living communities for wellness in North America for the second consecutive year by the International Council on Active Aging. Last November, both The Bluffs, its short-term rehabilitation center, and The Shores, its skilled nursing facility, were named among the nation’s best nursing homes for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report.

Mr. Syron was also named one of the continent’s top five wellness executives by ICAA and received the Lawrence E. Larson Memorial Award of Honor from LeadingAge New York in May.