Building on the success of last year’s competition that attracted record numbers of entries and saw the grand final double in size, the NACC is expecting the numbers to rise even further for the 2015 competition.
Care cooks working across the sector - from residential homes to community services such as meals on wheels, day centres and luncheon clubs - are invited to enter and showcase their specific skills and knowledge.
Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “Caterig within the sector is a highly skilled vocation and responsibility. It is also a growing sector as the population continues to age apace.
“The NACC Care Cook of the Year competition is vital to the sector. It gives care cooks the opportunity to shine and showcase to stakeholders and the wider industry the dedication and excellence they deliver every day.
“Our sector is privileged to be represented by talented and selfless cooks that continually demonstrate best practice and push themselves and their abilities ever further to do the very best they can for the elderly they serve.
“I urge everyone, whether working in care homes or in community settings such as meals on wheels and luncheon clubs, to enter this prestigious competition and show the wider industry exactly what we’re made of!”
Now in its 15th year, the NACC’s Care Cook of the Year competition challenges all care cooks to do just that. Entrants must create and substantiate a delicious and nutritionally balanced two course menu, main and dessert, suitable for service users in a care setting.
The combined food cost for both courses is also to be no more than £1.50 per head based on four portions, reflecting the restricted budgets care cooks often have to maximise.
All entries will be judged by a central judging panel for consistency and those shortlisted will have the opportunity to show off their culinary skills and knowledge at one of the six regional cook-offs.
The cooks have just 90 minutes to produce their dishes with the judges looking for innovation, costing, suitability for the environment, adherence to nutrition guidelines, taste and overall menu balance.
The two highest-scoring competitors from each regional heat go on to the Grand Final on Wednesday, June 10th 2015 at Barking & Dagenham Technical Skills Academy to vie for the Care Cook of the Year 2015 title.
For more information on the NACC Care Cook of the Year 2015 competition and to download an entry form visit www.thenacc.co.uk.