Food at Cumberland Grange Care Home
Our irresistible cuisine is prepared with only the very best fresh, seasonal produce, and based on the individual tastes of the people we support. Our menu will satisfy even those with the smallest of appetites; from breakfast through to dinner, residents can discover something different with fresh flavour and lovely presentation. Our fantastic chefs are always keeping themselves busy in the kitchen creating new and exciting dishes for everyone to enjoy. Please see below for a sample of what we offer:
Chris English
Hi I'm Chris the Head Chef here at Cumberland Grange.
I have a wealth of experience in the hospitality sector, having previously worked in some of Devon's most established restaurants and gastro pubs. My passion is using locally sourced food, creating daily menus that reflect the great variety of seasonal produce available. Overseeing the kitchen I ensure that every meal prepared by my team is always freshly home cooked, served and presented with care.
I really enjoy getting to know all of our new residents, making sure that I understand their likes, dislikes and preferences and aiming to incorporate all of these into our menu selections. Along with my kitchen team, we strive to create a menu that delivers the home from home dining experience that everyone living with us truly enjoys.
Outside of work, my passion for cooking continues and I enjoy experimenting with new flavours and recipes for my smoker and BBQ and absolutely love all things baking.
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'.
