Care chefs from across the sector are challenged to create a two-course menu (main and dessert) that is suitable in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses must be no more than £2.25 per head based on three portions and the two courses must be nutritionally balanced.
All paper entries will be judged and successful chefs will be invited to compete in regional heats in March 2020. Care chefs will have 90 minutes to impress the judges who will be looking for menu balance, presentation and culinary flair.
Sue Cawthray, national chair of the NACC, said: “The launch of the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition is always very exciting. There are many highly skilled, talented and knowledgeable chefs working in the care sector so we’re really looking forward to seeing what the 2020 competition entrants create.
“One of the NACC’s objectives is to raise awareness of care catering and promote it as an exciting and rewarding career that nurtures and develops chefs. The NACC Care Chef of the Year competition is a fantastic showcase that puts a spotlight on culinary excellence within the sector and gives chefs the opportunity to push boundaries and develop both professionally and personally.
“The competition has created fantastic opportunities for past winners, so I encourage all care chefs to step up and enter and make 2020 their year!”
The two highest scoring competitors from each regional heat will go onto compete in the national final on 3 June 2020 at Stratford-upon-Avon College. In 2019 Martin McKee was crowned the NACC Care Chef of the Year.
Premier Foods and Company of Cooks are the sponsors for the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2020 competition.
Mark Taylor, customer controller at Premier Foods, added: “We can’t believe the 2020 competition has rolled around already, the standard of entries that we’ve seen over the years has been incredible and really showcases the high calibre of talent in care catering.
“Good luck to all those putting themselves forward this year. Our top tip is to remember to think about all factors when putting together your entry including the budget and nutrition.
“We look forward to the final of this competition as it’s important to celebrate the industry given food plays a big part in care residents’ lives from both a nutrition and experience perspective.”
An entry form can be downloaded at http://www.thenacc.co.uk/ and the deadline is 31 January 2020.