Orchard Care Homes Turn ‘Master Chef’ As They Take A Culinary Tour Of The UK This Month
Orchard Care Homes’ catering teams across the North and Midlands have been channelling their inner ‘master chef,’ showcasing their skills with iconic foods from around the UK.
For the past five weeks the care group set a challenge to their 23 homes based around the foods of the UK regions, alongside imaginative themed activities and unique surprises for the people who live in the homes.
The “Cruise Around Britain” competition, saw the homes take a virtual tour to different culinary destinations across the British Isles, with themed events taking place each week for residents.
This project is part of Orchard’s mission to provide truly individualised care tailored to each person.
Their specialist dementia care model, Reconnect, is available at a number of homes across the group. These Reconnect Communities are centred on people rather than dementia and the focus is on bringing pleasure to the people who live there, through meaningful engagement, inclusion and choice.
On week one (England) people who live at the 23 homes were treated to a choice of a heritage tomato soup with cheesy croutons or an asparagus and bacon salad as starters. The main course was a slow-cooked steak pie or bangers and mash with gravy, and dessert was apple crumble or syrup sponge and custard.
Chatsworth Lodge in Chesterfield, got the entire home involved in decorating, following an English theme, they even turned their drinks trolley into a red double decker bus. Ashlea Mews Care Home in South Shields, transported their people to London using VR headsets where they enjoyed strolling the streets and looking at landmarks. Thornton Hall and Lodge in Liverpool, celebrated with a traditional British tea party in their tea room.
Week two (Scotland) saw cullen skink or leek and tattie soup as starters. Haggis, neeps and tatties or Scottish salmon, herby new potatoes and whisky cream sauce were offered as main courses, while desserts were a choice of sticky toffee pudding or raspberry cranachan.
Residents enjoyed performances from bagpipers at Three Bridges Nursing Home in Warrington, Penwortham Grange and Lodge near Preston and Lansbury Court Care Home in Castletown. Even a Loch Ness monster, made by the people of the home, stopped by for an appearance at Middleton Park Lodge near Leeds!
Week three (Wales) saw Welsh rarebit or broad bean salad as starters, followed by roasted Welsh lamb, creamed leeks and seasonal veg or Cawl (Welsh stew) finished off with a choice of Welsh cakes with butter and jam or bara brith with custard.
Green Park Nursing Home in Warrington was visited by some sheep to mark this special occasion, while at Archers Court Nursing Care Home in Farringdon colleagues dressed up to take part in their very own racing competition around the home grounds, with residents placing bets on who would win. At Langfield Care Home in Middleton a native Welsh speaker sang songs in the local dialect to the delight of those living there.
On week four (Ireland) boxty with creme fraiche and chives or cheesy Guinness bread were served up as starters, followed by Irish stew with colcannon mash or traditional Irish bacon and cabbage. Dessert choice was Irish apple cake with ice cream or Bailey’s cheesecake.
The final week saw Devon and Cornwall as the theme. Yarg cheese and squash soup or seafood platter were the starters; followed by Cornish pasties, new potatoes and vegetables or fish and chips as main courses. Apple pie with clotted cream ice cream, or scones with cream and jam were offered as desserts.
In the end the first prize went to Paddock Stile Manor in Houghton-le-Spring. Second prize went to Eaton Court Nursing Home in Grimsby, while third prize went to Middleton Park Lodge.
Julie Thompson, Home Manager at Paddock Stile Manor, was over the moon to win the competition. She said: “Wow! Thank you so much to the judges, we are all ecstatic! We have all absolutely loved the whole process and we are continuing with monthly destinations, starting with Italy for our Italian resident.”
Hayden Knight, CEO of Orchard Care Homes, said:
“A massive well done to every team that took part. We have been blown away by your dedication; you’ve all been brilliant and have made the last five weeks so memorable for the people who live in our homes, which is of course what matters most.”
