When people come to live at Bradbury House, one of the first things they often comment on is the range of delicious food we offer. For older people, often living alone before moving to our care home, food can become a real chore rather than something to be enjoyed. We want to bring that love of mealtimes back, so variety and nutrition are carefully considered and there is always a choice of menu.
Emma Goff, chef, and one of Bradbury House’s team of five kitchen staff, talks about what goes into making sure our residents enjoy delicious food again. Emma has worked at our Beaconsfield care home for over 13 years, so she has a brilliant understanding of how to create menus our residents love.
“We make sure our menus include lots of lovely well-known dishes, including things like Cottage Pie regularly. However, we also like to try new things so that residents don’t get bored. We hold a food forum a couple of times a year so that they can give their feedback, plus any ideas they have.”
Emma is always keen to talk to residents about what they’d like to see on the menu. She had a great time researching and baking Bara Brith after a resident had fond memories of it from Welsh afternoon teas. “We’re always happy to chat through menus and try our best to accommodate people’s wishes,” smiles Emma. “We receive most feedback about the 3pm cake!” Which is great news as this is Emma’s favourite thing to make! She loves getting creative and trying out different cakes to keep afternoon tea interesting.
As well as Emma, the kitchen team at Bradbury House includes Graham, Lennox, Wing and Carol. Wing is the longest-serving member of staff – he has been at Bradbury House for nearly fifteen years. The team get along well and have a laugh together.
Using locally sourced ingredients is an important part of our food philosophy, as well as supporting local businesses. Emma explains, “Local butcher, H. A. Price, is the brilliant supplier of our meat and he really looks after us. He knows lots of our residents too, which is really nice.” Another local catering company is used for lots of our kitchen supplies.
As well as the usual menu rotation, the kitchen team like to have theme days, and will always create food around special days like Pancake Day or Chinese New Year.
Meals are generally taken in our stylish and recently refurbished dining room. Although residents do also have the option of eating in their rooms if they so choose.
And remember, the kitchen team and Bradbury House welcome feedback from residents and families, so please don’t hesitate to contact them.