Tom Villa
Role and Responsibilities
Tom Villa serves as the executive chef at Meadow Ridge and Ridge Crest, overseeing dining for the entire campus. As executive chef, Tom Villa is responsible for leading the kitchen team, hiring and training new staff, creating menus and executing special events for the community. “Teaching is a major role,” he says, “and the role I like the most.”
Industry Expertise
With a diverse culinary background spanning from catering to serving esteemed clientele, including presidents, Chef John brings a wealth of experience to his role in senior living. His journey from the restaurant business to senior care reflects his adaptability and commitment to culinary excellence.
Career Journey
In 2018, he returned to the East Coast and served as an executive sous chef at Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa in Montauk, New York. Tom joined Meadow Ridge as executive sous chef, a position he held for four years before being promoted to Executive Chef in January of 2025.
Milestones
Tom earned an associate’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America and a bachelor’s degree in hotel management from Cornell University. He later pursued a culinary career on the West Coast where he served as a café manager in California.
Personal Interests
In his spare time, Tom enjoys getting outdoors and spending time with his wife, Ana, the Dining Room Manager at Meadow Ridge, along with their young family.
Chef Tom and his wife, Ana, bring their passion for culinary excellence to leadership roles in dining services at Meadow Ridge. Learn more in Professional Chefs Find Success and Love at Meadow Ridge.