Food at Chalfont Lodge Care Home
Food is at the heart of every home and Chalfont lodge is no exception. When a new resident arrives they have a meeting with the kitchen team to discuss their preferred choices, enabling us to provide a personal approach to dining for each person. Residents can choose to dine in the Lakeside Restaurant with friends and family or can eat in the privacy of their own rooms. There is always an extensive daily menu that changes with the season, in addition to this, people are able to request an alternative menu. We always have an abundance of fresh cakes, fruit and gourmet savoury pastries in our reception for our visitors and residents alike.
One of the special things about Chalfont Lodge are the opportunities we have to create statement events. We work closely with the Lifestyle team, to plan topical events each month to bring a little extra joy into peoples lives. Our biggest event of the year is our Family Summer BBQ, when we all get together and pull out all the stops to create a fabulous summer party. Giving us the opportunity to say thank you to all the people who work so hard throughout the year including all of our families and volunteers. Please see below for our example menus.
Zbigniew Kuczynski 'Zibi'
Hi, I am Zibi and I have been working at Chalfont Lodge since 2014 when I joined as the 2nd chef, during the last 7 years I have got to know our residents well, all the special meals they enjoy and helped to celebrate their special occasions like birthdays and special family days.
I have worked in a variety of places, hotels locally and in VIP private hospitality with the well known chef Michel Roux
I'm very proud to have been promoted Head Chef here at Chalfont Lodge and look forward to delivering even more fantastic food with my team for the people living and visiting the home.
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'.
