Food at Hurstwood View Care Home
At the heart of our meals are fresh, seasonal ingredients that are bursting with flavour. Our food is cooked to the highest standard and we take great care to cater to the dietary requirements of everyone living here at the home. Residents may even discover a new favourite food or enjoy an old favourite prepared in a new and exciting way. We actively encourage loved ones to attend our mealtimes so that they can get a taste of what we offer. Please see below for more details:
Karen Downie
Hi. My name is Karen, and I am the Head Chef here at Hurstwood View.
I have been working in the catering industry since I was 17 years old and have been working at Hurstwood View since it opened in 2012. I simply adore cooking and love to experiment with various flavours. I love my job at Hurstwood View and it’s a privilege to meet and work with so many different people. But what I love most is when people tell me they enjoy my food!
Being Scottish I am very fond of traditional Scottish dishes which when I am cooking, love to add a different twist. I am very fortunate to live in East Sussex with my husband and daughter. Sussex is a beautiful county with many interesting and historical places to visit. I love my job at Hurstwood View and in particular it's a privilege to meet and work with so many interesting residents. But what I love most is when people tell me they enjoy my food!
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'.
