Ascot chef cooks up a storm in national competition

Home news

Aug 11, 2015

Care UK’s Ascot care home, Larkland 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. 

Emilio Pascucci, chef at Larkland House, 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 Emilio challenged to prepare a two-course lunch in 90 minutes, while ensuring that the menu was seasonal and already a favourite with residents.  

For the main course, Emilio prepared a pork, sage and apple roundel served with a three root vegetable puree and julienned mixed parsnips and carrots. This was accompanied by a quenelle of leek and chive infused mashed potato with a red wine jus. Desert was a duo of puddings, which included a micro Victoria sponge with a quenelle of chocolate mousse, and a coconut oat and chocolate biscuit served with a summer berry sauce and vanilla cream.

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, Emilio 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 Larkland House.”

Danielle Plant, customer relations manager at Larkland 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 Emilio’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 London Road, Larkland House has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short term respite and day care.

For further information on Larkland House, please call Danielle Plant on 0333 321 8841 or email danielle.plant@careuk.com

Care UK runs 114 care homes and also provides care for thousands of people living in their own homes.  For more general information, please go to www.careuk.com.