The Residents Of This Care Home Really Love Their Chef, And Here Are 30 Pics Of His Dishes To Show Why
Chef Kevin works in a care home in Perthshire, Scotland, and the residents of the establishment absolutely love him. No wonder. Not only does he make dishes that look like something straight out of a Michelin-starred restaurant, but he also involves the residents in developing the menu.
The admiration for Kevin's work may have remained local if it wasn't for his younger sister Yvonne. She recently shared photos of the plates the passionate chef has prepared on the Internet and it spread all over the world.
"I am extremely proud of my big brother and we are always discussing food and recipes," Yvonne told Bored Panda. "I have recently become vegan and I work in a nursery so I am always asking him for ideas! When he shared these photos with me, I just thought, 'Wow, I need other people to see what he does.' During this strange time of the COVID-19 lockdown, care homes have had it tough and I just wanted people to see the happiness my brother brings to the residents."
The woman also wanted her brother to see how many people would appreciate what he does if they only had the chance to. And now they have. "Kevin is overwhelmed by all the positive comments that everyone has left. We both hope that his ideas and recipes will inspire others to try out new things within the kitchen," Yvonne said.
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Everything On The Right Plate Is Puréed
Wow. That’s so sweet. My sister was brain damaged by a drunk driver. She lived in a nursing home for 28 years. We had to purée every meal. It never looked that good! What a caring person you are Kevin. The elderly are to often treated like a burden. Like they don’t matter. You are making their lives matter by involving the in what they eat. You rock. 🦋💙
I am a speech therapist and I can honestly say this presentation of food is literally life saving! This chef is amazing!
It's so nice to see finally a human treat seniors as they should be. With dignity and respect!
Having worked in a care home, I know that you are an angel, Kevin! The pureed food looks delicious too, and that's not usual! Kudos!
"My brother is 42 years old with a very happy, cheerful and easy-going personality," Yvonne said. "He loves to make people laugh and is the kind of person that lights up a room when he walks into it." She added that Kevin is not just a full-time chef but a loving husband and dad to his two children as well.
"He has a busy life juggling all of this but somehow continues to bring love and passion to his cooking."
Free Standing Creme Brûlée On An Oreo Biscuit Base
I always had Creme Brûlée in little bowls and the centre of it was to soft to stand on its own. I would love to try one of these.
Kevin became a chef in 1995, straight after leaving school. "I had been working at the local chip shop after school for a couple of years. My cousin who had just become a chef at a hotel outside my town decided he didn’t enjoy it and left. With a little encouragement from my mother, I contacted the hotel to ask if there were any jobs available (secretly knowing that there was) and unlike my cousin, found out that I actually have a passion for cooking," the chef said.
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Kevin and his wife, Heather, married in 2005. They decided to go to New Zealand on a working visa for a year-long honeymoon. There, Kevin was offered a job at a retirement home and loved every minute of it.
When the year was up and the couple had to come home, Kevin started looking for a place to work at again, and wouldn't you know it: a care home 10 miles outside his town was looking for a head chef. "The best part of working in care is the interaction with the residents," he explained. "We plan the menus together and we even have tasting sessions which is great fun (this also gives me a chance to try something different for myself and the residents)."
Lasagne
The residents and their families come to the home and together with Kevin, they try out some of the new dishes from the menu. "They all have scorecards and if a new dish scores high, it goes on and if it's bad, we discuss how to change that dish to make it better. The residents always look forward to their meals and it feels good to know that they have had a lovely home-cooked meal."
The chef likes to give them the full dining experience and he puts so much effort into it, sometimes new residents even try to pay for their meal. "The smile on their face when I explain to them that it’s all been paid for. Every day is different and that’s why I love what I do."
Lasagne Made With Homemade Pasta
Wow, lasagna is quite a bit of effort even without making the pasta from scratch.
High Tea Cakes
Vegetarian Wellington
Lentils, mushrooms or even just mock meat. Lots of options here :)
Load More Replies...I would LOVE the recipe for this, a recently turned vegetarian I need to find nice recipes like this. It makes your mouth water? Xx
Mozzarella Sticks & Chilli Dip
I would be afraid they would choke on this. I don't know if they are the healthy aged or debilitated so that makes a difference.
Mozzarella is one of the softest cheeses, even with the light breading on this I wouldn't imagine moist would have any problem.
Load More Replies...They probably use unbreakable plastic plates, to avoid unjuries.
Load More Replies...Orkney Caramel Shortbread
Mmm, I love homemade Scottish shortbread. So much better than the pre-packaged kind.
Strawberry Cheesecake
Veg Pakora
Pakora is deep-fried vegetables (usually onions and cauliflower) in a chickpea batter. This is some good looking pakora!
Mango Mousse
Espresso cups...the berries are normal sized, methinks.
Load More Replies...Aubergine & Courgette Fritters With A Mint Yogurt Dip
courgettes are simply zucchini sliced, battered, and fried. Aubergine is an eggplant, fixed the same way.
Courgette is the British term for zucchini. I didn't realize it was the name of a specific dish in America?
Load More Replies...Beautiful and definitely makes my mouth water! there are masses of ways to prepare them both, this sounds very tasty. i think confusion is based on nationality and not realising thing are done differently than where people are from. (more often from the US seem limited) Like thinking Allspice is nothing else than a mix of spices ... ;-)
This place is in the UK and the veggies are called by their UK names. C'mon guys. Fried veggies with their UK names.
Fortunately for the people living in this care home it presents well and no doubt tastes amazing. It is NOT SIMPLY anything
From difference between dot net "1.The term Zucchini has an Italian origin while courgette is relatively French. 2.Zucchini is used by those people who speak North American and Australian English whereas courgette is used by those who speak French, British, New Zealand and South African English. 3.Zucchini and courgette are the same plant veggies but are used to refer to that same plant, which is growing across its different stages of plant development. The courgette is smaller and estimated to be about 14 x 4 cm long whereas the zucchini is bigger, which is estimated to grow as big as 15-20 cm. Read more: Difference Between Zucchini and Courgette | Difference Between http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-zucchini-and-courgette/#ixzz6TCA3wKkx
British isn't a language , it is English , a language also spoken in the US NZ and Australia.They just happen to have different names for a few things .
Load More Replies...Venison And Cumberland Sauce
Level 4 Pureed Meatballs
These are heroic and creative efforts to give stroke victims and others with swallowing difficulties something pleasing and palatable to eat. Kudos to the chef!
When I was in hospital after a stroke the pureed food looked and tasted like someone had already eaten it and it certainly wasn't made fresh. This chef is wonderful.
At least the people can taste the individual foods. Where my uncle was in assisted living, everything was diced together into not quite a mush and who knows what it tasted like!
I worked in a nursing home and we ate delicious food that was pureed for our patients. It was a great day when the brownish-red mush came in on the patient trays! It was stuffed cabbage day! Mmmmm!
Awww... This is amazing!! It is very creative and thoughtful for those who has difficulties to swallow. It looks delicious!!
Doughnuts
My grandfather used To make homemade jelly donuts. They were better than anything.
Like all his other dishes, the presentation of these makes them look so appetising.
Even if these were straight out of the box, the fact that was taken with presentation means a lot
High Tea Cakes
Looks like lemon curd tarts to me - just as yummy as custard tarts!
Load More Replies...Ploughman's Platter
Something quick and easy. I often eat a platter like this for breakfast.
I believe that is chutney on the side as it is traditionally served with Ploughman's lunch.
Load More Replies...Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
a mac 'n' cheese pie I'd say, you'll find them often in chip shops
Load More Replies...It looks like macaroni and cheese on what we call "Yorkshire pudding" in the UK. Yorkshire pudding is traditionally made from a batter of flour, eggs, flour, milk/water. It is a very versatile side dish that is traditionally served with a Sunday roast. You Very tasty!
Load More Replies...Stuffed Tomato And A Therapeutic Level 4 Version
Typically a Therapeutic Level 4 is someone unable to eat solid food at Sancha said. This might be a stroke patient, some dementia patients, even patients with cancers of the mouth, throat and stomach
Load More Replies...the condition is called dysphagia and the level of thickness( given different names dependent on which country) is required for the patients' food is assessed so that they can eat without the fear of choking or other medical complications. Unfortunately some will required PEG feeding( through a tube into the stomach) , I have a patient I work with who requires this kind of feeding.
My father had a ictus last winter, he can eat only blended food, and this is an absolute YES .. at least is not the same blended vegetable soup..
Load More Replies...Icecream Desert
This is an ice cream Eton Mess, a berry ice cream with a berry puree and crushed meringue; usually strawberry.
Turkey Wrap
Full English
There are no mushrooms, sausages or toast. So it's not full English. And what are the pale things on the left under the poached eggs?
Black pudding. Never was a big fan of English breakfast. Had it a couple of times in Scotland and ...meh.
Burns Supper
Is the title suggesting that it's what Robbie Burns had for supper? I like the look of that dessert!
A Burns Night supper traditionally features haggis, neeps and tatties/clapshot (potatoes often mashed together with swede), and Cullen Skink (a smoked haddock chowder). For dessert, cranachan (a blend of raspberries, cream, rolled oats, and Scotch) is often eaten.
Load More Replies...That is a bottle of Scotch Whisky. (Definitely not my favourite brand)
Load More Replies...Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
I'd agree! It looks like this appetizer I make that's brie, cranberry sauce and thyme baked in a mini tortilla bowl :)
Load More Replies...Fondant Potato
It's fancy for: potato. It takes quite a while to caramelize a potato slice at medium-low heat until the exterior becomes crisp. By then the interior is like baked potato. The same can be achieved with thick slices of potato -- less prep time, less food waste... and I like the skins.
Load More Replies...Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Lovely presentation, only negative...egg over boiled, so got grey edge to yolk.
Free Standing Creme Brûlée With Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream And A Brandy Snap Disc. 1st Attempt At A Free Standing Brûlée
Apple Strudal Flan And Apple Charlotte
Technically it's a cake not a Strudel cause a Strudel is a rolled version of a cake with a special dough which must be stretched very thin, roll has several layers... it's a speciality which is more popular in Austria with roots suspected in Arabia. https://www.tasteoftravel.at/original-wiener-apfelstrudel served with custard
Load More Replies...I am not a foodie so much of this would be wasted on me, but the photos are stunning. Kudos to the photographer ( and to the chef of course)
Technically it's a cake not a Strudel cause a Strudel is a rolled version of a cake with a special dough which must be stretched very thin, roll has several layers... it's a speciality which is more popular in Austria with roots suspected in Arabia. https://www.tasteoftravel.at/original-wiener-apfelstrudel served with custard
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Banana Fritters
Brioche Tuna Toastie
Red Onion And Brie Tart
Salmon And Scrambled Eggs
Back at it again, radiating with happiness I see!
Load More Replies...Breakfast Croissant
Goats Cheese & Mined Pea Filo Pastry Tart
Level 4 Pureed
Dishes within Level 4 puréed are smooth with a consistent texture. They have had their texture modified to a level which is suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties.
Load More Replies...I wish you could have explained better what some of this stuff wasa. We get that the food has to be pureed for some folks..... But it's hard to tell what this stuff is.
Brioche Cinnamon Swirls
Duck And Fondant Potato
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Braised Lamb Schnitzel With Mint Gravy & Roasters
Creamy Mushrooms On Homemade Ciabatta
Aberdeen Butteries
These are a hand held heart attack . They are like hard croissants on butter injected steroids. If you are from Aberdeen you will have felt your arteries harden with each mouthful.
They are lovely!! Plus, most people in care homes struggle to keep weight on so one a few of these a week will be such a bonus!
Load More Replies...Yorkshire Puddings
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Prawn Cocktail In A Melba Toast Basket
Scallops With Blood Orange Mash
Brioche
Smoked Kipper Kedgeree
Pidgeon With Puy Lentil Fondant Potato
Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Salmon And Monkfish Terrine
Citrus Carpaccio
Chicken Boudin
When people get older their appetite diminishes. They lose their sense of smell and a lot of elderly become malnourished. My grandfather did. We had to practically force feed him. So a small portion like this isn't strange at all. It looks lovely. Props to such a nice and caring chef.
That's ALL you get? One tiny little link of chicken? And what is that orangishbrown stuff?
Hey Molly, you seem really bitter, is every thing alright?
Load More Replies...Chef-Care-Home-Food-Pictures
Seeing how much love and compassion he puts into the food he presents the residents makes me smile. And the fact that he does his best to ensure those who are on a level 4 (or puree/thickener diet for those who don't know what level 4 means) to ensure their food looks just as normal as everyone else's speaks volumes on how much he truly cares! Well done! <3
Yes! Level 4 here is showing level of dysphagia (trouble in swallowing) diet. It has level 0-7, 0 for pure thin liquid like water and 7 is for solid food that can be chewed. Level 4 is for thick smooth pureed food that can be eaten with spoon and thick enough that it won't fell if you scoope it with fork. My husband was at level 2... Smooth liquid that can goes through gastric tube like soup. It's hard to make dysphagia diet food from level 0 to 4, palatable..everything look like baby food. Kudos for the chef!
Load More Replies...I have worked it care homes for many years and nothing has ever come up to this standard especially the soft diet !! Well done!!
Great chef and great dishes but can't help looking at the ingredients and wondering what his budget is, how many kitchen staff he has and how much the residents pay to stay there? It certainly puts Australian aged care establishments to shame..
My questions, too, especially considering the incredible variety. Also wondering how many residents he cooks for. Whatever the logistics, I'm impressed.
Load More Replies...This is joyful cooking. I know the residents there are happy and I'm good spirits. May he be blessed.
i love this. my mom was in a facility and while their food was pretty tasty it was not presented in any special way. as she declined she began to not eat well. eventually, she would call me for chicken nuggets and strawberry shake as she said the food didn't appeal to her. had it been presented like these i would like to think that she would have been encouraged to eat better than having her last meal be nuggets.
Seeing how much love and compassion he puts into the food he presents the residents makes me smile. And the fact that he does his best to ensure those who are on a level 4 (or puree/thickener diet for those who don't know what level 4 means) to ensure their food looks just as normal as everyone else's speaks volumes on how much he truly cares! Well done! <3
Yes! Level 4 here is showing level of dysphagia (trouble in swallowing) diet. It has level 0-7, 0 for pure thin liquid like water and 7 is for solid food that can be chewed. Level 4 is for thick smooth pureed food that can be eaten with spoon and thick enough that it won't fell if you scoope it with fork. My husband was at level 2... Smooth liquid that can goes through gastric tube like soup. It's hard to make dysphagia diet food from level 0 to 4, palatable..everything look like baby food. Kudos for the chef!
Load More Replies...I have worked it care homes for many years and nothing has ever come up to this standard especially the soft diet !! Well done!!
Great chef and great dishes but can't help looking at the ingredients and wondering what his budget is, how many kitchen staff he has and how much the residents pay to stay there? It certainly puts Australian aged care establishments to shame..
My questions, too, especially considering the incredible variety. Also wondering how many residents he cooks for. Whatever the logistics, I'm impressed.
Load More Replies...This is joyful cooking. I know the residents there are happy and I'm good spirits. May he be blessed.
i love this. my mom was in a facility and while their food was pretty tasty it was not presented in any special way. as she declined she began to not eat well. eventually, she would call me for chicken nuggets and strawberry shake as she said the food didn't appeal to her. had it been presented like these i would like to think that she would have been encouraged to eat better than having her last meal be nuggets.


