Chefs must prepare a two-course menu, with a main course and dessert. Both must be nutritionally balanced and suitable for residents in a care home setting. The menus must take no more than 90 minutes to prepare.
Judges had a challenging time at the recent semi-finals to decide which 16 chefs will attend the final this October. Chefs will compete against each other on 10th October at the Brakes Innovation Kitchen in Reading and the winner will be announced at the internal Care UK Stars Awards later that month.
The chefs heading to the final are:
- Marcin Pintscher, Skylark House: Braised lamb neck in a red wine jus, and deconstructed rhubarb and cardamon crumble.
- Adrien Henard, Chandler Court: Breaded lamb faggot, and deconstructed lemon tart.
- John Wiekamp, Tall Trees: Pan fried chicken supreme, and chocolate and tonka bean fondant.
- Martin Thompson, Ladybrook Manor: Poached haddock, and deconstructed Manchester tart.
- Michal Szulinski, Jubilee House: Chicken roulade, and tiramisu with honeycomb.
- Graham Watson, Lauder Lodge: Seabass and chorizo crumble.
A Care UK spokesperson said: “Care home chefs hold the important role of ensuring residents receive nutritious and delicious meals three times a day without fail and like to ensure there are home-made snacks available in between.
“Our chefs work hard to make sure that all residents' special dietary requirements are taken into consideration, from food intolerances to personal dietary choices and health challenges, such as dysphagia.
“Kitchen teams also know that the dining experience is crucial to residents enjoying their mealtime. This is why every Care UK home operates under the ‘Dining with Dignity’ initiative, which focuses on making the dining experience as enjoyable as possible.”
Care UK won the Care Catering accolade at the 2024 Public Sector Catering Awards. Read more about their triumph here.