Meet our Head Chef, John Wayman
John provides a high standard of dining for all of our residents here at Oaklands, catering for all of their dietary requirements. Barchester prides itself on using only fresh ingredients and John enhances this by sourcing local and seasonal produce which is freshly prepared.
Food and Nutrition at our home
Our irresistible cuisine is prepared with only the very best fresh, seasonal produce, and based on the individual tastes of the people we support. Our menu will satisfy even those with the smallest of appetites; from breakfast through to dinner, residents can discover something different with fresh flavour and lovely presentation. Our fantastic chefs are always keeping themselves busy in the kitchen creating new and exciting dishes for everyone to enjoy. Please see below for a sample of what we offer:
Dietary requirements
For residents that have difficulties in swallowing we modify the menu of the day so that is it a soft, palatable dish. To support our chefs in producing these dishes, our hospitality and Chef Academy organises theory and practical workshops. Working in partnership with Nutricia, our practical workshops involve all chefs and deputy managers learning about dysphagia and producing these modified menus. The chefs work with the chef trainer to prepare fork mashable and thick puree meals to the correct consistency, taste and presentation. The deputy managers can then ensure all modified menus served are presented correctly for our residents.
Attracting top chefs
Our chefs are recruited on the basis of an interview with the regional hospitality support team and the manager for the home. Selection also involves a practical element where potential cooks are asked to cook for and meet a panel of people living in the home. Chefs take their job extremely seriously and our annual 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'.
