Chef of the Year 2023 winner announced

Chefs from across our organisation competed in the prestigious Chef of the Year competition 

Paul Thomas, Chef Manager from Buckingham Lodge in Aylesbury, was crowned our 2023 Chef of the Year.

Watch how the competition went for Paul

Paul entered with a starter of butternut squash panna cotta with whipped goat's cheese and chives, dressed lamb’s lettuce with basil oil. For his main course Paul made a pan seared cod loin, crushed baby potatoes and spinach with charred asparagus, chorizo and caper butter. Finishing off with a dessert comprising dark chocolate ganache, clotted cream, seasonal pickled fruit and chocolate soil. 

Entrants in our Chef of the Year competition first had to submit a three-course recipe (starter, main and dessert). The best entrant from each region was picked by regional managers. These regional nominees then had their submissions voted for by Anchor colleagues across the country to pick the most appetising menus. Chefs were encouraged to use locally sourced ingredients and many even used herbs, fruits and vegetables grown at their own homes! Points were also awarded for menus that reduced food waste, using all parts of their ingredients. Four chefs made it through the first two rounds to compete in our live final.

The final was held on the 6 July at Leeds College. Paul competed against three finalists from three other care homes; Charlotte Holmes from The Manor House Barnard Castle, Lewis Cutler from West Hall and James Conroy from Eric Morecambe House. 

During the day, the four finalists had to prepare their menus in a set time and then the dishes were sampled by judges including our Managing Director of Care Services Rob Martin, Catering Manager Noel Finnegan, Steve McFall, Managing Director of Efoods, alongside Bidfood and Sam Mellish, last year’s Chef of the Year winner.    

In the end, though, there could only be one winner. Paul was crowned at the official ceremony later that day. All the judges agreed Paul’s menu contained the perfect balance of traditional comfort and culinary excellence!

Managing Director of Care Services Rob Martin, who presented Paul with his award, said:

A huge well done to Paul. This year’s competition was fierce, so it says a lot about Paul’s menu and skills that he was able to deliver such an excellent set of dishes against the clock and against so many other great chefs!

While all our homes provide fantastic quality cooking with high quality ingredients, our most important aim is to ensure our food is made with our residents’ wants and needs in mind, mitigating food waste and educating and inspiring colleagues to support and promote sustainable options. Paul’s delicious dishes very much achieved this aim and I’ve no doubt all the residents of Buckingham Lodge will be celebrating his win too!

Paul was delighted to win, saying:

I still can’t quite believe it! To make the final four was incredible but I never thought I’d win, I’m really proud to have won! I wanted to make a menu that was healthy but also tasty - and made good use of local and sustainable ingredients.

To find out more about our Chef of the Year competition, click here.