Poole chef in national care home cook-off

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Nov 17, 2014

The knives are being sharpened and the recipes honed as a much-loved Poole chef prepares to wow the judges in a national care home cook-off.

Roselie Snook, chef at Care UK’s The Potteries care home in York Road, will be representing the South of England in a national competition, open to Care UK’s 114 residential and nursing homes, for the title of Chef of the Year.

After winning through the local rounds of the competition, planning menus against a budget, Roselie secured her place in the Masterchef-style final, which took place on Thursday 23 October at Unilever’s headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Roselie will face three other regional finalists as she prepares main courses and desserts for the panel of four judges in a two-hour race against the clock.

Roselie said: “I have a wonderful job. I love to hear the feedback from residents and I have a beautiful new kitchen to work in and an excellent team of colleagues.

“The residents love traditional English food. I try to ensure that it has all the taste they love with a modern twist in the presentation that makes it look appetising and exciting.”

“The main course was rack of lamb with a red wine jus and mixed vegetables,” she said. “For dessert, I was torn between profiteroles with chocolate mint ice cream, strawberries and a fudge sauce or an Eton Mess that has a new and challenging construction.”

Jon Bicknell, Care UK’s Residential Care Service’s food and services director, said: “As people get older, their appetites may become smaller but that makes it even more important to create tempting food that is jam-packed with key nutrients.

“Judges at the cook-off will be looking at presentation, texture, nutritional value and the use of ingredients and, of course, the flavour. I know, using the first rounds as a benchmark, that we will see an exceptionally high standard in this cook-off.”

The winner of the competition will be announced at the Residential Care Services Gala dinner on Thursday 20 November.