Here at Hightown House, we had budding Master Chefs bring some fabulous homemade dishes in a three-scheme cooking competition organised by Hetul Vara, Hub Co-ordinator for our homeless services.
The final dishes were judged by David Bogle, Hightown's Chief Executive, and three senior managers on several categories including texture, originality, and general impression of the dish.
Each scheme came out on top: Shenleybury Villas for creativity, Oysterfields for presentation and Kent House for taste although it proved to be a pretty tight showdown after a lengthy deliberation between judges.
After reading the competition menu, we are sure you will be hungry!
The Shenleybury team created a Syrian chicken shawarma with a spicy chicken and rice fusion alongside a Raita dip. This Sudanese dish with a Pakistani twist was inspired after a Sudanese service user met some Pakistani young people on his journey to the UK!
At Oysterfields, they produced a three-course treat! Starting with homemade garlic flatbread for an appetiser, fruity rice and chicken with a coconut sauce for the main dish, followed by a mango lassi for dessert.
Kent House residents curated a dish with a North African flare - Moroccan chicken with butternut squash complimented by a Moroccan salad with feta cheese and flatbread.
All three schemes, service users and support staff should be extremely proud after producing high quality, creative and tasty dishes and making it one tough competition. Our judges are already looking forward to the next one!
Judging criteria
Shenleybury food preparation
Shenleybury Villas team
Kent House food preparation
Kent House team
Oysterfields food preparation
Oysterfields team
Judges taste testing
Judges deliberating
