CARING ANCHOR CHEF IS KITCHEN CHAMPION

Chef Margaret Mitchell overcame her kitchen colleagues in Anchor Home's annual battle to be crowned it's top care cook country wide.

Mother of four Margaret, 53, impressed managers at the Chef of the Year Competition run by Anchor Homes, England's leading not for profit provider of residential care for older people.

Margaret, chef manager at Brocklehurst home in Manchester, triumphed over nine fellow cooks from across the country in a cook-off at Huddersfield University.

Her tasty menu of Italian Chicken, Smoked Salmon and Broccoli tartlet and Choc Lemon Cheesecake went down a treat with a panel of senior managers and residents from an Anchor home in Huddersfield.

Delighted Margaret said "I'm enjoying the taste of success. We all pride ourselves on providing delicious and nutritious food for our residents so being judged our best cook for 2004 is a real honour."

People tend to associate the food served at residential care homes with school dinners but nothing could be further from the truth at Anchor Homes

The catering standards at Anchor Homes are very high. They are the only providers of residential care who have achieved the Hospitality Assured accreditation at all of their homes. This is the catering industry top award for customer service, which Anchor Homes share with The Ritz.

Barbara Laing, Director of Anchor Homes said, "People tend to associate the food served at residential care homes with school dinners but nothing could be further from the truth at Anchor Homes. We are driven by a strong customer focus and strive to consistently provide high quality meals to all our residents.

"Devising menus suitable for residents calls for enormous versatility and significant culinary creativity. The impressive standard of entries in this competition demonstrates the high levels of skill and professionalism employed behind the stoves at Anchor homes."

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