Food at Newlands Care Home
Our catering team offers a very home from home approach to the menu choices we provide. We are highly motivated in ensuring we accommodate resident preferences, specialised diets and nutritional needs. Our chefs hold regular nutritional meetings and these include the residents themselves, discussing meal choices and alternative menus. All our meals are cooked fresh each day within the home utilising local produce. All of our delicious cakes and desserts are made by our talented chefs and snacks and varied drinks are available throughout the day and night.
We provide themed days and evenings to encourage families to be a part of the home, from Fish and Chip Suppers for residents to "Tattie Pot" Nights. We are very proud to also offer a unique approach with our 'Resident of the Day' scheme. This enables each resident on a monthly basis, to not only feel that 'extra bit special' but request their most favourable meal for that day, whether this be a salad or a sirloin steak.
We strive to deliver the person centred care approach and if there is nothing of choice you prefer on the menu please just request for the chef to discuss any alternative options you would require.
Alan Ramsey
Alan Ramsey is our Head Chef at Newlands Care Centre. Alan has 19years experience in the cooking industry and has worked in restaurants, hotels and golf clubs. Being a classic Chef with a passion in making the finest homemade meals at our home, Alan always makes sure the residents are catered for their individual needs. Alan works with an amazing team of Kitchen assistants and cooks.
‘ In my free time I enjoy keeping fit and exploring the wonderful Lake District fells when the weather is favourable.’
Dietary requirements
For residents who have difficulties swallowing, we modify the menu of the day so that the dishes are more palatable for them. To support our chefs in producing these dishes, our hospitality team and our Chef Academy organise theory and practical workshops. The chefs work with the chef trainer to prepare tasty, modified meals safely and according to IDDSI frame work. This encourages residents to eat and enjoy their food. All our chefs have been trained in IDDSI food descriptors.
Attracting top chefs
Our chefs are recruited on the basis of an interview with the regional hospitality support team and the manager of the home. Selection also involves a practical element, where potential chefs are asked to cook for and meet a panel of people living in the home. Chefs take their job extremely seriously and the annual Barchester Chef Competition sees our chefs battle it out in regional heats and then at a national final for the accolade of 'Barchester's Chef of the Year'.
