Leamington Spa chef cooks up a storm in national competition

Home news

Aug 11, 2015

Priors House is celebrating after it was announced that a team member has reached the semi-finals of Care UK’s Chef of the Year competition.

Marcin Ignatowicz, head chef at the care home in Leamington Spa, competed against the culinary talents of chefs from around the country to secure his place in the second round of the competition.

Round one saw Marcin challenged to prepare a two-course lunch in 90 minutes, ensuring that the menu was seasonal and already a favourite with residents.

For the first course, Marcin prepared salmon wellington served with buttered asparagus and new potatoes with a white wine sauce. This was followed by apple pie with home-made vanilla ice cream for dessert. The meal was tasted by four judges including a regional director, a hotel services manager and two residents, and judged on originality, presentation, taste, nutrition and menu design.

Commenting on his success in round one, Marcin said: “I’m thrilled to have made it to the semi-finals. The level of skill and creativity from the other chefs was really high, but I was confident that the dishes I cooked would be received well by the judges because they are always enjoyed by the residents of Priors House.”

Julia Joy, home manager at Priors House, said: “The Chef of the Year competition is a brilliant opportunity for the chefs at Care UK to show their talent and expertise. It’s great that Marcin’s cookery skills have been recognised and we are all eagerly awaiting the semi-finals where I’m sure he will see further success.”

The semi-finals, which will take place in September, will see 12 chefs compete for just four places in the final of Care UK’s Chef of the Year.

Situated on Old Milverton Lane, Priors House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.  Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hairdressers, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.

For more information on Priors House visit www.careuk.com/priors-house or contact customer relations manager, Mawson Chipchase, by emailing mawson.chipchase@careuk.com or telephone 0333 321 1924.