Care home chef Rob is up for top award

Rob, who has been head chef at Clayburn Court in Hampton for three years having come from The Bell Inn at Stilton, is one of eight in the running for the award.

Says Rob: “I was at The Bell for 23 years and saw it grow from a nice traditional pub serving normal customers, to a top rated fine dining establishment where people would come from miles to eat and enjoy the atmosphere. Without being too radical I have tried to bring some of those skills to Clayburn Court, and so far have met with some really positive feedback so I must be doing something right!”

This is the second year in a row Rob has been short-listed for the award, so will he be doing anything different this year?

“Last year I did a loin of pork with cabbage and sweet potato followed by a passion fruit cheese cake. This year I am aiming for something slightly more traditional but with a nice twist. Hopefully it will be a success with the judges.”

On a more serious side, Rob was involved in the company training video for helping residents who suffer from dysphasia – ie difficulty with chewing. Currently three Clayburn Court residents suffer from this, so need to be specially looked after.

And last Christmas he gave the rest of his team the day off and on his own, cooked an entire spread for 54 residents and their families. “Now that was a challenge but everyone got fed and everyone left happy,” he said.

Anchor’s Chef of the Year competition will feature a two course cook-off, held at University of Birmingham on September 4, and will be judged by Michelin star chef Tom Shepherd.