Rob Rees MBE - The Cotswold Chef™ launches the cookery book for cooks who care

Rob Rees MBE, one of the UK's leading chefs is to launch a new cookery book – The Book for Cooks Who Care – at The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) Southfield Care Home, Stroud, Thursday, 30th October, 2008.

Rob, who is dedicated to creating a better food culture for Britain, contributed to the foreword of the OSJCT recipe book, which has been inspired by care home residents and staff. 

He said:  “Food is an important part of everyone’s lives, but perhaps more so in a care home environment.  Improving nutrition is also something we must take seriously – there really is good food out there, and this book shows that!  This is tasty stuff and extremely good value for money.”

The collection of 130 recipes is the brainchild of Frances Chapman, OSJCT Trust Catering & Housekeeping Manager and features traditional and quirky dishes suggested by residents and staff across all of OSJCT’s locations, including the 21 Gloucestershire homes.

“The original idea was to create a manual for our care home cooks, something that they’d really enjoy using,” said Frances.  “I asked all of the homes for ideas and was really unprepared for the response.  I received more than 600 recipes on my desk, including some old family and regional favourites, as well as new and healthy options.” 

Frances realised the book would have wider appeal and extra copies could be sold to raise valuable funds for the homes. She continued:  “Our tasting panels of residents and staff really enjoyed the rigorous cooking and taste tests, and the final selection was chosen carefully to suit every occasion and budget.”

Quirky recipes such as parsnips in a Lime Glaze and Polish cucumber apple salad, sit alongside more traditional British dishes – liver & bacon casserole and corned beef hash.  There are also some traditional Gloucestershire dishes, such as Gloucestershire cheese & ale – a Gloucestershire rarebit - and a wide variety of delicious cakes, biscuits.

Creed Catering Supplies, Staverton-based foodservice wholesaler, has worked with the OSJCT care homes since they began in Gloucestershire.  Creed has sponsored the recipe book, and has donated food and ingredients for recipe testing and for the beautiful food photography within the book.

Chris Creed, managing director, Creed Catering Supplies said:  “The Book for Cooks Who Care is a fantastic collection of great recipes that really work.  The recipe book offers something for everyone, including some interesting food facts as well as helpful cook’s tips.  Creed is delighted to be part of this project and support the launch of a really great new cookery book.”

All the recipes in this book have been tested by chefs and cooks in 21 of our care homes.  To make sure the dishes didn’t just look good, the finished dishes were tasted by panels of residents and members of staff.

OSJCT County Director Timothy Joy paid tribute to everyone who had been involved.  “The book not only provides our chefs and cooks with recipes we know our residents will enjoy, but also preserves some fantastic recipes that might otherwise have been lost.  In addition, it has given us an unexpected opportunity to raise some additional funds, which, as a not for profit charity, will go directly to benefit our residents.”

The book costs £9.99 and is available at each of the OSJCT’s 21 Gloucestershire care homes.  People wishing to purchase a copy can obtain them directly from any of the homes or by telephoning our Gloucestershire County Office on 01452 381118.

For more information contact:
Janis Tunaley
Marketing & Communications Manager
OSJCT
Tel: 01522 813103

20th October 2008