Food at Newington Court Care Home
We ensure at Newington Court that each person that we care for has their nutritional and dietary requirements met. Our catering team comprises of experienced chefs who are able to create a fantastic array of both delicious and nourishing food. Our chefs take into account individual likes and dislikes to create menus that appeal to everyone. Throughout the day and night we offer light snacks and finger food for those that prefer to have little and often. For a taste of what we offer, please see our example menus below.
Catherine King - Yombo
My name is Catherine. I joined Newington Court in June 2017 as the second chef. I was promoted to Head Chef in October 2021. I have worked as a professional chef for many years and enjoy providing nutritious, flavoursome meals for our residents. I speak to residents individually to find out their likes and dislikes, and they let me know if there are dishes they would like to see on our menus
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'.
