Food is a big part of everyone’s lives, some people have been accomplished cooks throughout their lives and others may have grown and cooked their own food. The sight, smell and taste of food can evoke strong memories of people, a special place or good times. Whatever their background everyone enjoys a good meal.
Fine dining is not traditionally associated with the care sector or care homes. However, leading care providers are working to change perceptions. Country Court Care is bringing in award-winning chefs with a background in top Michelin star restaurants to deliver the ‘wow factor’ on a daily basis. Front of house teams deliver hotel-level service ensuring residents are offered a range of food and drinks throughout the day
“Providing outstanding luxury care is not just about a beautifully furnished care home. Going above and beyond excellent personal care and nursing needs and providing meaningful lives for residents is at the heart of what we are working to achieve. Food and nutrition provide a big part of people’s well-being.” Explained Alykhan Kachra, Co-CEO at Country Court Care.
Country Court is working to raise standards and expectations so residents can enjoy restaurant-quality food every day. As well as bringing new chefs from other industries, chefs are receiving training in specialist areas such as ‘Texture Modified Foods’ for specialist diets.
Sergio Terrasini joined our 80-bed luxury care home in Walberton, West Sussex in 2019. He explains what bought him to the care sector after a career that has seen him working alongside some of the UK’s top chefs.
“I am Sergio Terrasini, 39 years old, originally from Palermo, Sicily. I started working in catering at the tender age of 11 years old in local bars and restaurants in Palermo and decide to come into the UK in July 1999. I planned to stay long enough to learn the language and then return to my country, but 20 years later I am still here! During my time in the UK, I fell in love with the people and customs and decided that the UK is the best place for me to call home.
In the last twenty years, I had the privilege to work with some of the best chefs in the country, celebrity chef Tony Tobin and two Michelin star chef Tristan Mason to name just two. In the recent past, I have been working in fine dining restaurants at Michelin stars and AA rosette level. This allowed me to learn how to express my creativity using fine ingredients, constantly delighting my guests with flavourful tasty food presented to deliver “the wow factor” every single time.
Around 7 years ago, I made the decision to give up my career in the restaurant trade in order to spend more time with my two fantastic children. I decided to go into the care sector with the aim of delivering excellent food within a sector where the whole dining experience had been undervalued for many years.
I accepted a position as Chef Manager within a catering company delivering service for assisted living sites and successfully introduced fine dining into the care sector. I was very proud to be crowned Unilever Chef of the Year 2018 within the care sector. I love all cuisines but I have a soft spot for Japanese dining, I absolutely love Sushi making.
I am very pleased to have joined Country Court Care and I’m excited to be part of what the team here is aiming for. I love creating the finest recipes for our residents with the sole purpose of giving joy and pleasure with each meal served.”
You can see Sergio's work and our other chefs on our Instagram page @caring_with_food
