Making a Difference with a Great British Roast

Ainsley Harriott Samples Fine Dining at Water Mill House

On 20th October Water Mill House Care Home was awarded a prize by celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot for their new Good Old Fashioned Carvery service.

This was in response to a challenge launched by Ainsley Harriott earlier this year to come up with a creative and innovative dining experiences for residents that can be sustained in the years ahead.

Water Mill’s entry, their Good Old Fashioned Carvery, won a first prize and received a visit from Ainsley who sampled the restaurant style carvery and was presented with a top of the range gas barbecue for the home’s residents to enjoy in the summer months.

The Carvery service can be delivered in the home’s Bistro or on any of the three floors in the home – so that the less mobile or bed bound residents can enjoy the experience too. All the staff, whether carers, kitchen staff or the lifestyle team are involved in serving the Carvery roast meals to residents as professionals waiting staff would, creating a true fine dining experience.

Home manager, Anna Marrah said: “We wanted to do something we already know the resident’s love – and who doesn’t love a roast?” But we also wanted to bring a different and more personal experience of service and a closer interaction with our kitchen staff.

“We trialled the concept and the residents loved the three course menu we served, teamed with wine and sherry. Many of them are saying that it is far superior to a restaurant experience!”

Ainsley and Water Mill’s head chef, Peter Cserepkai cut and served the slow roasted striploin and the thyme roasted chicken breast stuffed with apricot. Everyone then tucked in to a full three course meal with roasted pumpkin soup with crème fraiche or Scottish salmon terrine with horseradish mouse to start. The roast included roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, a selection of fresh vegetables, which included chantenay carrots and an exquisite cauliflower cheese. The desert was a delicious Crème Brule and shortbread.

Ainsley said: “It is very heartening to see a care home investing so much in not just the quality of the food they are serving to their residents but also the way in which they serve it.  Keeping elderly people stimulated and interested in food is so important and ultimately life enhancing.  Well done Water Mill House”

Peter said: “We are so thrilled we have won this accolade and it’s wonderful to have Ainsley visit our home.

“We put a lot of thought into our entry because interest in food is so important for older people and it’s our job to keep our resident’s engaged and involved with food. Just seeing, for example, a lovely, juicy piece of beef carved in front of them helps to stimulate their appetite and their enjoyment of the meal”.

 

Brochure Gallery Make a Care Enquiry here Accessibility