The competition saw chefs from Agincare care and nursing homes across the country create a main course and dessert. The four finalists Basem Afouneh, Nick Ryan, Rohan Trenchfield, and Scott Baker travelled to Lansdowne Hill Care Home in Wroughton for the final round of the competition.
Celebrity chef Dipna Anand and the four finalist dishes
The cookery competition was a source of major excitement for the residents and care team at Lansdowne Hill who were all eager to take part. Once presented to the judging panel, the dishes were tasted by the residents who enjoyed the four different mains and desserts.
Dipna Anand was joined on the judging panel by Lansdowne Hill Care Home residents, Albert, Angela, and Noreen.
From left: Scott Baker from Edgehill Care Home, Nick Ryan from Agincourt Care Home, celebrity Chef Dipna Anand, Lansdowne Hill resident Angela Lake, Rohan Trenchfield from Bluegrove House Care Home, Basem Afouneh from Lansdowne Hill Front: Lansdowne Hill residents Noreen Ashton and Albert Evans
Enjoying his role as one of the expert judges, Lansdowne Hill resident Albert said:
“As a big fan of curry, I enjoyed Basem’s seafood rice dish the best.
“I really enjoy the food at Lansdowne Hill so he knows what I like best!”
After introducing their dishes, the judges scored each main course and dessert. Dipna then spent time chatting with residents, keen to know what they thought of each dish and the type of foods they liked.
Dipna said:
“It was an honour to judge the Agincare MasterChef-style cookery competition and to meet the lovely residents at Lansdowne Hill Care Home.
“I was so impressed by the passion and dedication that all the chefs had put into their dishes for the competition.
The four finalists and Dipna Anand
After much deliberation from the judges, Dipna announced Basem Afouneh, Lansdowne Hill’s very own chef, as the winner! Basem had prepared a fragrant seafood rice dish and gorgeous Turkish milk cake that went down a storm with both the judges and the residents.
Dipna presented Basem with a specially designed trophy and luxury hamper that included a restaurant experience for two.
Basem said:
“I was very surprised when Dipna announced me as the winner!
“I cook with love for my residents, always listening to their likes and preferences to make something special.”
From left: Agincare Homes Operations Manager Kinga Odendaal, Dipna Anand and winner Basem Afouneh
The runner-up award went to Nick Ryan from Agincourt Care Home in Weymouth, Dorset, who impressed the judges with his mouth-watering braised lamb dish and cheesecake dessert.
Each Agincare care home caters to a range of dietary needs, from coeliac and gluten-free, to vegetarian and vegan to suit the needs and requirements of residents. Chefs use local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible and work with individual residents with their own likes and dislikes.
Applications for next year’s competition are flooding in as we speak!
For further information about Agincare, head to www.agincare.com