Food at Briardene Care Home
Fresh and tasty
Our catering team at Briardene Care Home consists of experienced chefs who offer only the best in nutritional and delicious food, which reflects the individual tastes and dietary requirements of people living at the home. To get a flavour of the menus we serve here, please see the examples below.
Kevin Smith
My name is Kevin. I’ve been here at Briardene as the head Chef for nine years now, prior to this I served 23 Years in the Army as a Chef.
Since I have been part of the Briardene team I have won the chef of the year 2016. This year 2023 I am in the final of the Chef of the year. We have entered into numerous competitions with in Barchester. We have won the Christmas cake competition 3 times and the Easter cake 2 times also. Once a year Barchester hold a weekly nutrition and hydration competition where we as a catering team have to create the ultimate week to show case our skills. The catering department also support the activities team where we plan themed days and the food will play a big part in this.
The most important part of my job is obviously catering for all the lovely Clients that live at Briardene. My team and I make sure that they all get the best possible catering service which is a very important part of their daily life.
Since I started at Briardene I have retained the 5 Star rating awarded by the environmental health team that inspects unannounced every 18 months. I am extremely proud of this.
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'.
