Food at Wheatlands Care Home
Our catering team at Wheatlands provides nutritious and wholesome food for the people we support. Our team listen to residents' likes and dislikes and create a menu that appeals to all. Meal times are a big part of residents' days, and the food we offer makes a real difference to their health and happiness. Dietary needs and preferred foods are an important factor and it is very important that mealtime experiences are enjoyable, with great food, social interaction and a good level of ambience. Our chefs are creative and enjoy baking cakes for residents' birthdays and special occasions. We also like to welcome loved ones to enjoy our meals as well, so we can make it a special occasion for the people in our care. Please check below for a sample of our menu:
Martin Hall
I started this role in June 2020 and I have over 20 years' experience within the hospitality sector.
I love producing excellent quality nutritious meals for the resident and their loved ones, whilst always taking into consideration individual like and dislikes.
I enjoy chatting with the residents and finding out what their favourite classic meals are and then adding it to the menu for them. I try to keep a wide variety so there is a good choice for everyone.
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'.
