Eastcote Park Chef Finalist 2024 Nigel Cooke Wins Midlands Care Chef Competition
For the third consecutive year, Nigel Cooke, Head Chef at Eastcote Park care home near Solihull, has been crowned winner of the Midlands regional heat for the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year competition.
He is one of just 12 chefs nationwide to have been selected for the national final which will take place on 1st October.
During the regional heats, competitors were given 90 minutes to create a delicious, nutritious and cost effective two-course menu appropriate for people in a care setting. They also had to impress the judges by showing their own flair through contemporary flavours.
Nigel’s winning main course was streaky bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, served with black pudding cottage pie, celeriac puree, ep sauce, broccoli, celery, walnuts, radish and apple.
His desert was called ‘Sweet Memories of Black Forest Gateau’, which he served with mascarpone. He created this to celebrate 200 years of Cadbury’s chocolate and their partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Nigel Cooke said, “The standard was extremely high and I am incredibly proud of this achievement. My friends, family, colleagues and all the residents and hospitality team at Eastcote Park have given me so much support. It is such an honour to be in the final again – and this year I fully intend to win!”
Mark Shockledge, Senior General Manager, Eastcote Park added, “Nigel is a very talented chef. Through hard work, diligent ingredient sourcing and showcasing a flair for flavours and presentation, he has impressed the judges yet again.
Getting to the final of such a prestigious national competition is a fantastic endorsement of the outstanding food that Nigel and his team serve to residents at Eastcote Park on a daily basis. We wish him every success in the final.”
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