Food at Brampton View Care Home
It is essential that the people we support have access to healthy food at all times, so our fantastic catering team are always on hand to prepare tasty and nutritious cuisine. Our food is cooked to highest standard and with residents’ preferences always in mind. The importance of a balanced diet is never forgotten here, so we offer a varied menu that has something for everyone to enjoy, which you can sample below:
Glenn Coombs
Hello. I am Glenn, I joined the team at Brampton view in 2021 as Head Chef. I have 35 years of culinary experience and I have had the privilege of working in many locations including the island of Bermuda for 10 years and Scotland for 8 years where I ran my own restaurants. I have also had the pleasure of putting my culinary talents to test for royalty and other famous people.
Since working in healthcare I have found such fulfilment in being able to provide enjoyment for the residents in their mealtime experience. It feels like cooking for my extended family. I enjoy taking time out of my day to visit the residents to ask for feedback on the meals and tailor the menu for their preferences as it is their menu! At Brampton view we run our Pudding Club where each month we have recreated a resident’s recipe from their lives and I have provided a cooking demonstration of this. As well as being the nutrition champion for the home I like to take part in the Barchester competitions I involve the residents and my wider team in these, I was also nominated for Chef of the year! Christmas 2023 I produced a gingerbread house advert calendar where each day a different resident could open a house for a treat in the countdown to Christmas. Easter 2024 I won the Easter cake competition with my Easter story cake showing the crucifixion of Jesus and the tradition seminal cake. We also won the best Ice Cream Sundae!
I am an avid supporter of American Football League and enjoy getting dressed up to attend the games is a must for me. I enjoy keeping myself in good health and attend the gym as and when I can.
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'.
