Bon Appetit – Bromsgrove chef up for national award

A Bromsgrove care home chef has been shortlisted for a coveted national award. 

Alex Millichamp, Second Chef at Care UK’s Chandler Court, on Recreation Road, has been shortlisted as ‘Chef of the Year’ at the Care Home Catering Awards.

The Care Home Catering Awards reward individuals, teams, companies and organisations who go above and beyond to deliver high-quality, nutritious food in a care setting. 

The home has also been shortlisted in the Best for Nutrition, Food and Dining category at the Care Home Awards. The accolade recognises the team’s commitment to providing the best dining experience possible, ensuring a genuine family atmosphere. 

Alex, who joined the home in 2019, has been praised for ensuring that residents have plenty of choice, and are served great food that looks, tastes and is of the same standard as fine dining.  

The home is committed to its ‘Dining with Dignity’ initiative, where residents with special dietary requirements are fully catered for in a discreet and respectful manner. The role that Alex plays in ensuring this is carried out is vital, going above and beyond to help train and develop colleagues. 

Above all, it’s Alex’s impressive signature dish, a crispy pan-fried salmon, accompanied by a unique dill mashed potato, along with spinach drizzled with butter and cherry tomatoes roasted to perfection – served with a mustard cream source, rich in calcium and Omega 3 – which earnt him a space in the final. After proving a hit with residents, the meal is now set to be permanently added to the menu at Chandler Court. 

An advocate for nutritionally-balanced, delicious meals, Alex ensures residents are fuelling their body with the right amount of calories – particularly for those living with dementia, who may struggle to maintain their weight. Alex and the team’s efforts to cater for residents’ individual needs can also be seen with the team whipping up special low sugar muffins for a resident with Type 1 diabetes who loves puddings. 

Commenting on Alex’s meals, one resident said: “One of my favourite breakfasts is Eggs Royale, which reminds me of going to breakfast with my wife when we were first married, and Alex is only too happy to make it for me whenever I ask him.”

Alex added: “Whether we’re creating appetising dishes or baking cakes for residents to enjoy with a cup of tea, we strive to make a positive impact on residents’ health and wellbeing through nutrition and hydration.  

“I’m over the moon to be shortlisted for this award – I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a win!” 

Rosalind Lockley, Customer Relations Manager at Chandler Court, added: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted in the Chef of the Year category, as well as the Best for Nutrition, Food and Dining in the Care Home Awards. Alex and the wider catering team work incredibly hard to ensure that mealtimes are enjoyable, and that there is always a variety of tasty and nutritious meals on offer each day. 

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Alex, and the whole catering team at Chandler Court. I’m so proud of what we achieve every day, and it’s fantastic that everyone’s hard work has been recognised nationally.”  

The finals where the winner for the the Care Home Catering Awards will be announced on 8^th June at the awards ceremony taking place in London.

The winner for the Care Home Awards will be announced on 30^th June.

Chandler Court is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Chandler Court, please call Customer Relations Manager, Rosalind Lockley, on 01527 907 849 or email rosalind.lockley@careuk.com 

For more general information, visit careuk.com/chandler-court