Neel Radia, national chair, NACC, said: “Catering within the care sector requires specialised and crucial knowledge and skills. Catering for the elderly and vulnerable comes with specific challenges, including the risk of malnutrition and the impact of reduced appetites and eating difficulties caused by conditions such as dementia and dysphagia.
“Care caterers across the UK do an incredible job in overcoming these challenges, creating exciting and appealing meals to ensure the nutritional wellbeing of those entrusted to their care.
“The NACC Care Cook of the Year competition gives us a fantastic platform to celebrate and champion the talented and dedicated chefs in our sector. I congratulate all of our finalists.
“The regional heats were exhilarating and have set the bar for what is sure to be a phenomenal national final. I wish everyone the very best of luck.”
The NACC Care Cook of the Year competition seeks out the best care cook in the UK by challenging entrants to create a nutritionally-balanced, two-course menu (main and dessert) that is suitable for service users in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses must be no more that £1.50 per head based on four portions and it is to be produced in just 90 minutes.
Finalists will compete for the title of NACC Care Cook of the Year 2016 on June 8th at Barking & Dagenham College’s Technical Skills Academy.
The 2016 NACC Care Cook of the Year National Finalists are:
Scottish Region:
John Grover – Ivybank House Care Home, Polmont, Falkirk
Stuart Middleton – Meallmore Lodge, Daviot, Inverness
Northern Region:
Ryan Blake – Sunrise of Mobberley, Knutsford
Julian Gabrielli – Sunrise of Hale Barns, Altrincham
Midlands Region:
Martin McKee - The Hawthorns, Aldridge
Peter McGregor - Perry Manor Care Home, Worcester
Welsh Region:
Kevin Beebe – Y Plas Care Home, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire
Simon Harris – Claremont Court Nursing Home, Newport
South West Region:
Anthony Proffitt - Kimberley Court Care Home, Newquay
Christopher McDonald - The Check House Nursing Home, Seaton
South East Region:
Alan Cash - Mildenhall Lodge, Mildenhall, Suffolk
Alex Morte - Coombe Hill Manor, Kingston-upon-Thames