Success on the menu for Worcester chef

Home news

Mar 15, 2016

A professional chef from Perry Manor care home, on Charles Hastings Way, in Worcester is celebrating after making it to the regional finals of the NACC Care Cook of the Year competition. 

Head chef, Peter McGregor, who was last year’s winner of Care UK’s Chef of the Year, beat off stiff competition from chefs from across the Midlands to go through to the regional finals of the competition.

Peter triumphed during the first stage of the competition, impressing the judges with his creativity, expert knowledge and understanding of catering within a care setting to earn his place in the regional final.

The competition, which is open to all chefs and cooks in the care sector, saw entrants create delicious and nutritionally balanced two-course menus, including a main and dessert. Menus had to be suitable for service users in a care setting and come in under a set budget. 

Menus were judged on the level of innovation, costing ability, suitability for the environment, adherence to nutrition guidelines, great taste, and overall menu balance.

With just 90 minutes for the task, Peter impressed the judges with a first-class menu which included Supreme of chicken, parsnip puree, Parisian potatoes served with a red wine and thyme jus, which was followed by caramelised classic lemon tart, served with fresh raspberries.

Commenting on his success, Peter said: “I’m thrilled to have made it to the regional finals. The level of skill and creativity from the other chefs was really high, but I was confident in my experience creating meals that the residents of Perry Manor love to eat – ensuring that every meal, every day is nutritious, well-balanced and meets the resident’s individual dietary needs. 

Pushpa Sagoo, home manager at Perry Manor, said: “The NACC Care Cook of the Year competition is a brilliant opportunity for the chefs across the country to showcase their talent. It is great that Peter’s cookery skills have been recognised once again. We are very proud of his achievements and we are excitedly awaiting the regional ‘cook-off’ where I’m sure he will see further success.” 

The NACC Care Cook of the Year Competition is one of the longest standing, independent recipe competitions in the UK. It continually challenges people who operate in the care sector to devise new and exciting recipes and to excel in their day to day catering environments.