Food at Strachan House Care 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:
Paul Dow
Hello, My name is Paul Dow and I am the Head Chef here at Strachan House, I joined the team at Strachan House in July 2021 and I bring 30 years of experience with me. I trained as a chef in an army kitchen before venturing into the hospitality industry in Foxton working in a hotel in Hythe.
I then moved to Edinburgh to work in a high-class restaurant and stayed with the same company for 24-years before joining the team here at Strachan House. I look forward to my new adventure and getting to know the residents and providing them with a high standard of food as they so deserve.
I love my family and spending time with them this is one of the reasons I wanted a new chapter to change my work life balance. I also love football, golf and music. I look forward to being a part of the Strachan House team.
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'.
