Food at Juniper House 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:
Andrew Blunt
Hi, my name is Andrew, I have been working at Juniper House as the Head Chef for Just over 3 years. I bring a vast wealth of experience and knowledge with myself to Juniper House, from working Star Hotels, Privately Run Gastro pubs as well as 6 years working in hotels in Christchurch, New Zealand. I am passionate about putting the freshest, tastiest meals In front of your loved ones, from traditional English favourites as well some more modern dishes with a twist. One of my favourite parts of my job is talking to our residents and finding out what they like or would like to see on our seasonal changing menus, I am always around the home so if you should want to have a chat to me I would be more than happy to.
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'.
