Food at Hickathrift House Care Home
Ensuring that each person we care for meets their nutritional and dietary requirements is a big responsibility, which is why the catering team here at Hickathrift House comprises of experienced chefs who can deliver a fantastic array of both delicious and nourishing food. Our chefs take into account our residents likes, dislikes and dietary requirements to create a menu that appeals to everyone. We also offer light snacks throughout the day and night to those people who just can’t get enough of our food! For a taste of what we offer, please see the example menus below.
Andy Rasberry
Hi, my name is Andy. I'm the Head Chef here at Hickathrift House. I've been a chef for 35 years working for the BBC, Channel 4 and Great Ormond Street Hospital as well as many other great places around London.
I have worked in care homes since 2009 and moved to Barchester in 2023. I pride myself on providing the best we can do for our residents especially those on adapted diets.
The food that we produce is always cooked to the highest standard, using the freshest products. I am looking forward to how we can help our residents now and in the future.
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'.
