Food at Kingfisher Lodge Care Home
At the heart of our meals are fresh, seasonal ingredients that are bursting with flavour. Our food is cooked to the highest standard and we take great care to cater to the dietary requirements of everyone living here at the home. Residents may even discover a new favourite food or enjoy an old favourite prepared in a new and exciting way. We actively encourage loved ones to attend our mealtimes so that they can get a taste of what we offer. Please see below for more details:
Karen Brickell
Hi, my name is Karen, and I am the Head Chef here at Kingfisher Lodge. I was one of the first chefs to work here at Kingfisher lodge when we first opened its doors back in 2012.
I am lucky enough to have also worked at other Barchester homes. I really enjoy not only the cooking but the life outside the kitchen in and around the home in the lounges and dining rooms, chatting and joining in singalongs and activities with all the staff.
I really do thrive from interaction with the residents and enjoy listening to suggestions and unusual things to cook. I will always surprise residents with a special meal and a birthday cake.
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'.
