The Creed Foodservice Care Chef of the Year
For 2023, we launched our first-ever Creed Foodservice Care Chef of the Year Competition. We invited care sector chefs from all over the UK to take part and we were astounded by the number of entries and level of competition that we saw.
After the preliminary judging, we invited our four finalists to compete in the final held at The Foodworks Cookery School near Cheltenham. The final challenge was to cook an IDDSI level-four dish, from scratch, within two hours. All final dishes were presented to our judges, Rob Owen (Executive Business Development Chef at Creed Foodservice), Jamie Clews (Account Manager at RobotCoupe), and Preston Walker (Director of Oak House Kitchen).
The winner of the competition was Ivon Peplow from Country Court Care. Having worked as a chef for over 40 years, Ivon started in the Royal Air Force for 12 years, working as part of Royal Functions, including the team that cooked for Her Majesty the Queen in 1984 plus other Royals. Then moving within Business and Industry, before finally moving into the care sector as a Chef Manager and now Catering Operations Support.
When we asked Ivon to tell us about his final dish and why he chose it for the competition he said:
"It is a dish that is full of flavour and colours, which is ideal for residents who have dementia and are on a texture-modified diet. It is not too heavy and can also be turned into a salad for the summer months. We are now welcoming a generation of residents that are well travelled and have tasted different foods, this is a dish that can bring back great memories for them! As the generations change in our homes, we must change our styles of food and cooking to grow with them."
Read a bit about each of our finalists and their motivations for being a chef in the care industry below...
Padmaja Surendralal from Order of St. John Care Trust explained that she grew up and worked in Portugal before moving to England in 1999 where she went straight into the Care industry as a Kitchen Assistant. After completing her NVQ 2 in Cookery she continued into a Head Chef role at Monkscroft Care Centre.
We asked Padmaja why she chose a career in care catering. She explains, “I have always enjoyed cooking; I have fond memories of cooking from my childhood and cooking at home with my Mother. I enjoy working in a small team and appreciate all aspects of the roles required within a kitchen environment. I value the importance of building a rapport with the team and engaging with residents about their dietary requirements and food preferences.”
Finalist from Signature Dining, Paul Bunker explained that he started cooking in the Scouts! “I really enjoyed cooking for friends, but my real passion for cooking started when I was entered into a competition and had to produce a three-course meal to a panel of judges… to say I was nervous was an understatement - I came second and I was hooked! I went home and told my parents that I wanted to go to a catering college”.
He described his path into care catering as a late one. Saying that “I joined cater-plus as a relief chef, and looked after 10 sites, from which I had to cover holidays and sickness. I enjoyed meeting new residents and getting to know their stories.”
Finalist Jessica Miles from Adept Care explains that she began her career “In my family's own care business, completing NVQ Levels 1-3 at 17, and then Level 4 at Buxton University. My background blends experience in both the care and hospitality industries, including time as a pastry chef at Stapleford Park Hotel and Spa. I travelled extensively around the UK before realising a calling to the care sector. I've worked in leading care homes, specializing in Dysphagia Modified Diets, combining a unique blend of culinary and compassionate expertise”.
Her passion for cooking is to be creative. “Food in care homes doesn't have to be mundane. With thoughtful planning, skilled chefs, and creative recipes, it can be as exciting as dining with family or in a Michelin-star restaurant. Quality ingredients and attention to individual dietary needs can result in a diverse and enjoyable culinary experience, enhancing residents' well-being and overall quality of life. After taking a break from the care industry, returning to care feels like coming home—back to my roots and where I should be.”
We would like to thank all the entrants, finalists, judges, and those who supported in the planning in helping to plan this amazing event, for making the first-ever Creed Foodservice Care Chef Of The Year Competition such a success!
Didn't get a chance to enter or feel you have more to give? Enter the 2024 competition today!
