Food at Marnel Lodge 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:
Berenice Merritt
Berenice is our new Head Chef who was a senior district manager for school meals. She was a Directors Chef for Glaxo- fine dining with focusing for lunch on occasions. Berenice is classically trained Chef bringing a wealth of experience in wholesome well cooked 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'.
