Leamington Spa chef reaches finals in national competition

Home news

Oct 21, 2016

A local care home is celebrating after it was announced that a team member has reached the final of Care UK’s Chef of the Year competition.  

Nikolina Dimitrova, a chef at Priors House has been shortlisted for the national award alongside three other chefs from Care UK homes.   

Nikolina, known to residents and the team as Nina, has been recognised for the award for her personalised approach to the food she prepares, tailoring dishes to residents’ personal tastes, as well as dietary requirements. Nina moved to the UK eight years ago and has been working in the culinary sector ever since, joining Priors House in 2014. 

Care UK’s Chef of the Year competition is held annually and recognises the best culinary talent in more than 100 Care UK homes around the country. 

Nina said: “I’m thrilled to have made it to the finals. The level of skill and creativity from the other chefs is really high, but I am confident that the dishes I prepare in the ‘cook off’ will be well received by the judges because they are always enjoyed by the residents of Priors House. I thoroughly enjoy my job and find it very rewarding, particularly when residents with smaller appetites enjoy the meals I prepare.” 

Francine Summers, 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 Nina’s cookery skills have been recognised and we are all eagerly awaiting the finals where we hope she will see further success.” 

The final of Care UK’s Chef of the Year competition will take place on Wednesday 26th October with the chefs competing against each other in Unilever’s professional kitchens in Leatherhead, Surrey.