Inspirational training for care home chefs

Peter Cserapkai and Libor Olsanik, who work at Water Mill House Care Home, went to London to be trained by top TV chef Ainsley Harriott last Monday.

Ainsley launched a Food Challenge for the 11 homes in the Carebase group in the south east and East Anglia, with the aim of inspiring chefs to come up with a new, creative and innovative dining experience for their residents.

Peter and Libor got to spend time with Ainsley, who demonstrated some of his recipes and shared his top tips.

Ainsley said: “I am passionate about good food and exciting people to create wonderful meals and dishes no matter where they eat.

“It’s great to see Water Mill House Care Home investing in this competition and I know that Peter and Libor will embrace the challenge ahead and produce a fabulous new menu idea for the residents”.

Peter and Libor will now present their new menu idea at a community event at the home in early October.

If their menu is shortlisted in the Food Challenge, Ainsley will visit the care home to present their prize.

Peter said: “This was such an exciting opportunity and Ainsley has been incredibly inspiring today.

“Learning from him has given me many ideas to take back to Water Mill House and develop into our winning idea.

“Sharing ideas and learning with the other chefs has been a really valuable experience.”

Libor said: “Ainsley’s Three Cup Chicken dish is something I am certain to cook for our residents and his Caribbean Bouillabaisse was a real treat.

“We really hope to be shortlisted so we can welcome Ainsley to Water Mill House in October.”

After almost two decades as one of the country’s favourite TV chefs, Ainsley Harriott is known as the master of fresh, fun, accessible cuisine, best known for his 21 series of Ready, Steady, Cook.

In the UK, he has most recently been seen in Ainsley Harriott’s Street Food and Len and Ainsley’s Big Food Adventure .

Last autumn, he was also seen showing off his moves on Strictly Come Dancing.

Water Mill House independent private care home opened on Rose Lane in 2014, providing residential, nursing and dementia care for individuals and couples.