The food and dining awards for 2019 have recently been presented to teams and individuals working in Care UK’s 120 homes.
Alex Wendling, Head Chef at Lennox House, was named Chef of the Year 2019.
Judges said that Alex continues to go from strength to strength in his delivery of excellent food for residents in the London home.
Commenting on his achievement Alex said: “I was delighted when my name was called.
“Our home is wonderfully diverse and I think I have been able to use the knowledge I gained, working in kitchens around London and beyond before joining Care UK, to create not just appetising choices, but also multi-cultural dishes that reflect the tastes and cultural heritage of our residents.”
Alex’s winning menu was a main course of succulent stuffed chicken thighs served with dauphinoise potatoes and winter vegetables followed by a rich dark chocolate filo tart served with rum and vanilla mascarpone.
The three runners up in the Care UK Chef of the Year awards were Alex Millichamp from Chandler Court in Bromsgrove; Deborah Moran from Davers Court in Bury St Edmunds; Yavor Dimitrov from Highmarket house in Banbury.
The Chef of the Year cook-offs took place throughout the summer and autumn and were judged by experts in the hospitality sector and Care UK directors. Care UK has over 100 care homes – each with at least one highly-skilled chef.
The award for Best Dining Experience went to the team at Mountfitchet House, near Stansted in Essex. Judges said the Mountfitchet House team continue to deliver a luxury dining experience with a personal touch.
The Chief Executive of Care UK’s care home service, Andrew Knight, said: “I never cease to be impressed by the dedication people show in order to support the 7,000 residents in our homes, whether that is as carers, chefs, maintenance teams or so many others.
“These awards are our way of recognising the empathy, dedication and success of care home teams and an important way for us all to say thank you to so many incredible teams and individuals.”
Care UK occasionally has openings for talented chefs who may wish to train to provide delicious and talented meals for older people – including those with specialist dietary requirements. For details see https://careers.careuk.com
www.careuk.com
