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Top gong for chef
A chef swapped his kitchen whites for smart black tie as he was presented with a top award in London last month.
But award-winning culinary creator, Chris Took, is no ordinary cook, doesn't work in a restaurant and can often be seen creating delicious cocktails using ingredients unlikely to be found on any bar menu.
Mr Took is the chef at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Last month he strolled down the red carpet to win the regional NHS Health and Social Care People's Award for dignity in care.
He will now go on to attend a national final later this year.
Mr Took understands the importance of knowing each patient's preferences and double-checking each tray before it goes out and he was recognised for transforming meal times for terminally-ill patients and leaving the kitchen to chat to patients.
Although the idea of presenting a cocktail to the seriously ill may seem odd, he says it can help patients to regain their appetite.
"A lot of people when they come in haven't eaten for a long time. So we start off very lightly with things like smoothies and cocktails and progress from there.
"We make the smoothies out of nutritional drinks but we add things to them that add calories and taste such as fresh soft fruit and full-fat vanilla ice-cream. And we make them more interesting with the decorations so they look like a delicious cocktail and people can laugh at them."
In his black-and-white-checked trousers and white jacket, Mr Took, 53, is a familiar and well-loved member of the hospice's staff. Like the nurses, he makes daily visits to the ten inpatients and also regularly provides food for dozens more patients from the community and their carers.
It is this interaction with patients and their families which ensured Chris' nomination at the ceremony at Bafta in London on Wednesday 27 May.
Alison Briant, Director of Clinical Governance at The Hospice of St Francis, said: "For Chris to be shortlisted was gratifying in itself: we were pleased to be recognised by our peers and members of the public. To win the award for Dignity in Care made us all so, so proud."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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