Passion for Dining & Nutrition was founded in 2017 by Patrick and Dawn Nickleson with a simple but powerful belief: senior living dining can, and should be better. With decades of combined experience in restaurants, hospitality, senior living, and healthcare foodservice, Patrick and Dawn created PDN to support nursing homes, and senior living communities with real culinary leadership, not cookie-cutter solutions.
Patrick Nickleson, Chef Owner, brings over 45 years of hands-on culinary and operational experience. His background in menu development, kitchen leadership, and mentoring culinary teams shapes PDN’s practical, results-driven approach.
Dawn Nickleson, CDM, Pastry Chef Owner, is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu with extensive experience in baking, pastry, catering, and senior nutrition. As a Certified Dietary Manager, she bridges creativity with regulatory knowledge, education, and nutrition-focused dining.
Together, they lead PDN with a shared passion for quality food, strong teams, and meaningful dining experiences.
Training and skill development are essential to a strong healthcare culinary workforce. PDN provides education through hands-on culinary training, professional speaking engagements, and the Culinary4U® online courses in partnership with EduCare.
Menu variety and colorful presentation play an important role in resident satisfaction. PDN offers seasonal menus, fresh-ingredient recipes, and visual inspiration through our gallery to help refresh your dining program and elevate the meal experience.
Operational support is critical to maintaining consistency and efficiency. PDN brings proven management experience, offering interim leadership, kitchen audits, operational reviews, and guidance through transitions to self-operation.
Our team works alongside yours to inspire, educate, and elevate healthcare dining every day.
PDN provides professional chefs and foodservice directors for hire with specialized experience in senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities. We elevate healthcare dining through skilled cooking techniques and expert culinary leadership that support quality meals and overall quality of care. Read More
Dawn Nickleson, CDM
Pastry Chef • Owner
507.254.5086
dawn@pdndifference.com
Patrick Nickleson
Chef • Owner
651.231.1433
patrick@pdndifference.com
