Aida Blanco is Charlestown's New Director of Dining Services

CATONSVILLE, MD -- Erickson Living has named Aida Blanco the Director of Dining Services for Charlestown. She comes to Charlestown just a few months after the community debuted the new Signature Dining program, which features fresh, made-to-order, resident-focused menu offerings.

Aida has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Her experience includes managing financial results, menu and recipe development, staff training with a strong focus on customer service, food safety and cooking techniques. She also possesses strong teaching skills both in lecture and kitchen demonstration.

Most recently, Aida served as director of dining services for Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. Aida also shares her gifts as a culinary adjunct faculty member at Anne Arundel Community College.

Prior to 2015, Aida worked at The Maryland Food Bank and a variety of hotels including Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

She holds a bachelor of professional studies in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is also a certified dietary manager, certified food safety manager and a certified ServSafe proctor/instructor. She resides in Mt. Airy, MD.

Below is Aida’s favorite recipe (It’s a twist on a classic):

Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients

4 cups diced seedless watermelon

½ cup chopped cilantro

1/3 cup of red onion, finely diced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced

Juice of two limes

1 T. vegetable oil

½ teaspoon of kosher salt

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, oil, and salt and toss to ensure that all flavors are mixed well and even throughout the salsa. Grab your favorite Tortilla Chips and enjoy!