St David's Day: Care UK celebrates care home catering

Care UK’s two Welsh homes, Cardiff-based Llys Cyncoed and Llys Herbert, are gearing up to celebrate St David’s Day this weekend. 

On Sunday 1^st March, they’ll be celebrating the day of their patron saint with festivities galore and traditional food. It's a day to soak up Welsh culture and heritage, with residents and their relatives ready to enjoy entertainment and, most importantly, familiar home-cooked flavours from the kitchen teams. 

Llys Cyncoed is turning up the Welsh charm with a spectacular celebration that is sure to delight residents. The kitchen team, led by Head Chef Jamie Christopher Farrell, is going all out with a traditional Welsh menu, featuring Welsh cakes, Bara Brith, and tasty soups, alongside a live singer treating residents to rousing Welsh classics.

Jamie said, “Celebrating St David’s Day with traditional Welsh recipes is incredibly important to us here at Llys Cyncoed. Food has a powerful way of connecting people to their heritage and, for many of residents, these dishes bring back comforting memories of family gatherings and community celebrations. Using traditional recipes isn’t just about serving a meal — it’s about honouring Welsh culture and creating meaningful moments. The familiar smells and flavours can spark conversations, stories and smiles, which is a privilege to witness.” 

The team's year-round commitment to traditional Welsh cuisine is evident in their bilingual menus and often sees special dishes like laverbread with cockles shared at dinner. 

Jamie's team consistently go above and beyond, delivering top-notch service every day, not just on special occasions. They work closely with residents, colleagues, and families to ensure every meal is tailored to residents’ individual needs and preferences. From weekly meetings with care teams to training for colleagues on food service, Jamie's approach is all about dignity and respect.

The results speak for themselves: residents rave about the food, with one even joking that Jamie's soups could put Heinz out of business! 

At nearby Llys Herbert, the kitchen team is pulling out all the stops to mark the occasion in style. Their traditional Welsh feast will also include Bara Brith and will be completed with lamb cawl and their cakes will be served with salted Welsh butter - a special request from the residents themselves. Their dinner will be accompanied by a live harpist and will be followed by a sing-along session.

But it's not just about the food - the kitchen team at Llys Herbert is dedicated to providing positive mealtime experience. All Care UK teams take a 'dining with dignity' approach, serving meals with respect and compassion. They engage with residents, involve them in menu planning, and cater to individual needs and preferences. Llys Herbert’s collaboration with local dieticians and the Gold Standard Snack Awards ensures that every snack and meal is nutritious and tailored to residents' needs. From decaffeinated drinks which help to reduce falls, to personalised meals according to residents’ preferences, the team's attention to detail is making a real difference to residents.

John Law, Head Chef at Llys Herbert, said: “At Llys Herbert we understand that good, nutritious food is of vital importance. We work with residents to create menus that are tasty and different, but that honour local produce. We have worked closely with the Welsh dietetics team to ensure that we are providing good quality food in everything we do – and we find that using locally sourced, high-quality ingredients makes all the difference. By cooking traditional Welsh delicacies on St David's Day, we are creating a chance for residents to reminisce about their lives and giving them something to share with loved ones.”

As we celebrate St David's Day, Care UK is proud to shine a spotlight on the hardworking teams at Llys Cyncoed and Llys Herbert. Those who work in kitchens and delivering the dining experience are true assets to the care homes – supporting residents to be happier, healthier and, most importantly, well fed.

To find out more about careers in catering at Care UK’s care homes, please visit: https://www.careuk.com/careers/explore-our-roles/home-support-roles/catering