Food at Hilderstone Hall Care Home
Our catering team at Hilderstone Hall consists of experienced chefs who ensure that the nutritional and dietary requirements of each person we care for are met. Our chefs deliver a fantastic selection of delicious and nourishing food, whilst also catering to any individual requirements, taking into account any likes and dislikes. Snacks are also offered throughout the day and night for residents who feel a little peckish between meals. Please see below for a taste of what we offer on the menu:
Rodney Buultjens
Hi, I'm Rodney and I have been the Head Chef at Hilderstone Hall since September 2023.
I bring bags of experience and of course recipes from my expansive career as a Chef. I qualified from The Guildford College London in 2003 and spent time perfecting my craft in care home kitchens. I enjoy taking suggestions from Residents and making sure we are providing them with the food of choice as well as ensuring they have a healthy, balanced diet.
My favourite meal to cook is a good old fashioned roast dinner with all the trimmings.
I have been married for many years, I attribute this to my excellent cooking! When I am not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, I enjoy food shopping and tinkering with electronics.
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'.
