Care homes and elderly care from Barchester Healthcare

Meet our Head Chef, Catherine Williams

My name is Catherine Williams, I am the head chef at Bryn Ivor Lodge.

I have 25 years in the catering industry and worked mainly in hotels.

My job at Bryn Ivor Lodge is to produce a fresh, well balanced menu sited to the residents needs and ensure it is delivered correctly by my team while maintaining the highest possible standards.

You will often see me around the home, don’t be afraid to ask me any questions or make menu requests.

I love to make my own biscuits and cakes which are all baked fresh on a daily basis. I also love to make celebration cakes especially for the resident’s birthdays.

Food and Nutrition at our home

It is essential that the people we support have access to healthy food at all times, so our fantastic catering team are always on hand to prepare tasty and nutritious cuisine. Our food is always cooked to highest standard and with residents’ preferences always in mind. The importance of a balanced diet is never forgotten here, so we offer a varied menu that has something for everyone to enjoy, which you can sample below:

Dietary requirements

For residents that have difficulties in swallowing we modify the menu of the day so that is it a soft, palatable dish. To support our chefs in producing these dishes, our hospitality and Chef Academy organises theory and practical workshops. Working in partnership with Nutricia, our practical workshops involve all chefs and deputy managers learning about dysphagia and producing these modified menus. The chefs work with the chef trainer to prepare fork mashable and thick puree meals to the correct consistency, taste and presentation. The deputy managers can then ensure all modified menus served are presented correctly for our residents.

Attracting top chefs

Our chefs are recruited on the basis of an interview with the regional hospitality support team and the manager for the home. Selection also involves a practical element where potential cooks are asked to cook for and meet a panel of people living in the home. Chefs take their job extremely seriously and our annual 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'.

What happens now?

Are you ready to discuss your individual care requirements? Pick up the phone and talk to us, book a visit to our care home or come and take a look around our facilities.

New care enquiries 01633 731765

New care enquiry phone lines are open 8am - 8pm

All other calls 01633 681759

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Meet our Head Chef, Catherine Williams

Food and Nutrition at our home

Breakfast time

Daily menu

Try something different

Dietary requirements

Attracting top chefs

What happens now?

Useful downloads

Email us

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