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Company News, The Hawthorns Aldridge, Aldridge, West Midlands

Aldridge Head Chef Scoops First Prize at NACC Regional Final

Our talented Head Chef Martin McKee has cooked up a NACC treat before at least year’s National Association of Care Catering finals. He’s off to a flying start this year too, having won the Midlands regional finals of the NACC Care Chef of the Year, being awarded both best main course and best dessert. With a full, clean sweep, we’re sure he’s going to impress at the national finals in June, and he has the full support of the Hawthorns Care Home Aldridge.

The NACC Care Chef of the Year is an annual competition for the care catering sector, highlighting true talent and raising awareness of catering in care. The competition looks at culinary knowledge, skills and creativity.

Martin’s dishes fulfilled and exceeded the necessary requirements in the competition. He showed innovation, costing, suitability for the environment, adherence to nutritional guidelines, taste and overall menu balance.

His main course was mouth-watering, consisting of a tender blade of Staffordshire beef, broad bean mash, braised red cabbage and honey glazed Shropshire carrot puree, with poached asparagus and Yorkshire pudding.

His dessert was equally a show stopper, with a Buckinghamshire cherry and Belgian chocolate Bakewell mousse with almond joconde.

We are always impressed with Martin’s cooking, although he was a little overwhelmed that he was awarded first place in both dishes!

This marks the fourth consecutive year that an Avery Healthcare chef has reached the national finals under the tutelage of Simon Lawrence, Group Culinary Manager for Avery. Simon was elated with Martin’s results! “This was Martin’s third success at the regional finals and he again did not disappoint the judges. He delivered a beautiful twist on an elegant Sunday dinner as well as a stunning dessert. A truly well-deserved winner. Having placed second and third at previous national finals, we’re hoping it’s third time lucky for Martin this year!”

Good luck Martin, we’re all rooting for you to win at the finals!

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