Food at Orchard House 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:
Lee Hall
Lee was born on the Island but spent 20 years in the Merchant Navy travelling around the world.
Lee joined at the young age of 16 years as a ‘pot washer’. He worked his way up to ships cook and gained his chefs qualification as part of the Merchant Navy Training scheme, which equates to degree level!
Whilst on ‘manoeuvres’ Lee was part of the crew of the QE2 sailing around the world taking in the Americas, Egypt, Australia and Asia.
After Lee came out of the Navy, he came back to the Island, but sticking near to all things maritime has worked at 6 different Yatch Clubs, including:
Seaview, Royal Island, Royal London, Royal Ocean and Brading.
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'.
