Transforming the image of care home cooking

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 1 June 2015

UPDATED: 1 June 2015

Trainee chefs at New College Nottingham (ncn) have been treated to a cooking demonstration by top care home chef Preston Walker, who is helping to transform the image of care home cooking across the sector.

Preston performed a cooking demonstration at ncn Clarendon on 22nd May alongside trainee chef, Gaynor Pokorny, 45, who got the chance to work with Preston when she took part in a competition as part of her Level 3 Professional Chefs Diploma at ncn.

The Masterchef-style competition was part of Nutrition and Hydration Week, a national initiative run by the NHS, Hospital Carers Association and the National Association of Care Catering. Students were tasked with creating a main meal and a dessert with a budget of £5, to be cooked, presented and plated in just two hours. Gaynor produced the winning dishes and was crowned the NHS England Student Chef of the Year.

During his visit Preston spoke to more than 20 ncn students about the benefits of working in the care home sector and, with the help of Gaynor, recreated her winning dishes for the students to sample.

Gaynor, from West Bridgford, said:

“I’m so pleased ncn put me forward for the competition because it has been an amazing experience. Not only have I had the privilege of working alongside Preston, but I’ve also gained some great contacts and learnt so much through the process.”

Gaynor is now working at Oak House on a voluntary basis once or twice a month.

“It’s nice to feel like you’re giving something back, and I really like the way that the care home gets to know its residents on a personal level so that the food can meet the needs of each individual”, she explains.

“I think there’s still a stigma attached to working as a chef in a care home, but this experience has really opened my eyes to how creative and innovative you can be with care home cooking.”

Preston took over his family business - Oak House residential care home in Rutland - in 2008, and brought with him over 20 years’ culinary experience, working in renowned restaurants including Harts, World Service and Hambleton Hall.

He said:

“I get a real pleasure from creating nutritious and tasty dishes for our residents. For the elderly, food is medicinal and at Oak House we ensure every meal is packed full of goodness and flavour. We produce familiar flavours which people recognise but just cook them in a more imaginative way.

“As a care home chef it’s very important to be able to create a variety of different dishes for people with a range of different needs. Whether the food is pureed, fortified or low residue, it’s important to present the dish well so that our residents can eat with dignity.

“When I was training to become a chef, other than working in a restaurant, I had no idea about the opportunities available to me as a chef. I think if I’d been inspired when I was younger I may have changed my route into the kitchen. Care home cooking is a very rewarding job and I don’t think many people realise the significant changes and improvements that have been made over the years. I want to raise awareness about the sector to young chefs and to highlight the benefits of choosing it as a career path.”

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