The NACC reveals new Care Chef of the Year

The NACC has crowned Tim Ware of Green Tree Court in Exeter the winner of its 2020 Care Chef of the Year competition.

Ware was today announced as the winner in a special online prize giving ceremony led by head judge, Bev Puxley.

Second place went to Matthew Dodds of Gracewell of Ascot and third place to Cheryl Crook from Bupa’s Heol Don care home.

In addition, Dodds received the Highly Commended Main award for his dish featuring a poached saddle of rabbit, roasted shallots, baby carrots, crispy kale, fondant potato and tarragon cream sauce.

James Cotton of Majesticare’s Cavendish Park Care Home took the Highly Commended Dessert award for his black forest bakewell tart.

The competition previously saw eleven finalists take part in a virtual cook-off that gave each of them the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills, creativity and specialist care catering knowledge to the expert judges in their own kitchens.

Ware’s menu consisted of butter roast chicken, Bombay potatoes, spinach and shallot bhajis followed by a dessert of poached apricots, coconut and lime espuma and pistachio filo pastry.

Sue Cawthray, the NACC’s national chair, said: “Congratulations to Tim Ware on being crowned NACC Care Chef of the Year 2020. In last year’s competition he took second place so it’s wonderful to see that despite all the challenges the past year has thrown at us, he’s continued to develop and progress into the top spot! A huge well done on a fantastic achievement.”

The 2020 Care Chef of the Year finalists were:

• Tim Ware, Green Tree Court
• Michael Collins, Blossom Fields Nursing Home, Grove Care
• James Cotton, Cavendish Park Care Home, Majesticare
• Cheryl Crook, Heol Don, Bupa
• Nellie Dhliwayo, Sunrise of Chorleywood
• Matthew Dodds, Gracewell of Ascot
• Anna Koziarkska, Auchtercrag Care Home, Meallmore Ltd
• Jack Lawson, Bunkers Hill Care Home, United Health Ltd
• Paul O’Brien, St Modans Care Home, Meallmore Ltd
• Brian Preston, Lister House, Royal British Legion
• Carmine Tarquilio, Mardy Park Resource Centre, Monmouthshire County Council