Food at Herne Place Care Home
Our menus are composed of only the best fresh produce and cooked to the highest quality, with aims for the natural aroma and taste to be retained as best as possible. A great deal of care is taken to accommodate all dietary requirements, and our meals are always prepared with the likes and dislikes of residents taken into consideration. We can guarantee that there is something for everyone on our menu, which you can view below:
Ian Law
After leaving the army in 2005 I started my catering journey working in local restaurants around Thanet, ranging from beach front venues and wedding venues including Quex park, learning quickly French classic dishes and traditional English food. As I improved I was entered into the taste of Kent awards which I won in 2015 and catered for the award ceremony 5 years running.
I was recognised by Tesco stores and was invited to develop some of their shelf ready meals and recipe boxes. After this I was contracted by Fresca Group and Thanet Earth, and was employed in Germany cooking for various vegetable growers and packers bringing fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK from all over the world.
Continuing on my career I was invited by Eddie Irvine to cook for him and his family personally on his yacht at the Monaco grand prix 2023. During this I joined the royal British legion and was the Head Chef at one of their care homes in the local area due to location. I chose Barchester Care Homes as my next challenge in my catering career, and hope to draw from my experiences to deliver the residents and staff delicious classic dishes to satisfy all.
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'.
