Food at Sycamore Grove Care Home
Our dishes here are constantly evolving, and take into account the desires of those we support, integrating seasonality into everything we prepare. Food and nutrition are at the heart of the home, so it is important that residents can enjoy a balanced diet that caters to individual dietary requirements. Whether people want to try something new and exciting, or just enjoy an old favourite, there is something for everyone on our menu. Please see below for more information:
Dirk Ehrlicher
My career in hospitality and catering started in 1990. I’ve trained in Jülich, Germany and have started my career In Zurich and worked in many 4* and 5* Hotels in my career including Claridge’s (London), Hotel Alpina (Klosters, Switzerland) to name a few, I then went on to work as a head chef in Switzerland. I am now very settled and happy in the UK, spending the last 12 years working for the 5* Landmark hotel in Marylebone, fulfilling many roles starting at Sous Chef and working my way up to an Executive Sous chef role.
I started working as a chef in the care sector in 2023. I chose to join Barchester as their standards and expectations are so high. I believe a good chef is an artist and should be able to create delicious menus from the local, seasonal produce on offer.
We have a strong passionate team here at Sycamore Grove and we are looking forward to welcoming our residents to their new home.
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'.
