Cooking skills will be tested as aged care chefs from Bacchus Marsh will face off in a cooking competition semi-final.
Hosted by aged and disability organisation VMCH, the Dining Room Showdown is a friendly competition that pits two aged care hospitality teams from the organisation’s 14 residences across the state against each other to be crowned showdown champ.
One of these is Providence Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh.
Taking inspiration from popular televised cooking shows, each hospitality team receives a ‘mystery box’ of ingredients on competition day.
From there, they must create a fresh and exciting two-course menu for 30 people, including aged care residents, family members, staff and industry professionals.
Taste testers then rate the dishes on dining experience, culinary passion, presentation and food safety.
Residents involved in the tasting stage across the five competitions held since September last year have devoured some delicious dishes, including ricotta and spinach chicken with tomato medley, pan-seared rosemary lamb with mushroom risotto, and mango trifle for dessert.
Head chef Sanath Wanniarachchi, who is spearheading the competition, said that the aim is to create fun, excitement and socialisation for the aged care community.
Chef manager Karen Stansfield described it as “a fantastic experience”.
“[It’s] a great opportunity to showcase the important work we do as chefs in aged care, highlighting our passion and what we do every day,” Ms Stansfield said.
Semi-finals for the VMCH Dining Room Showdown will be held throughout May, before two finalist teams battle it out in the grand finale in June.
