Care home residents from across the Midlands recently traded their usual lunch routines for scoring cards, participating in an overarching two-week Come Dine with Me-style competition.
Inspired by the hit TV show, two dedicated resident representatives from four regional Cinnamon Care Collection homes travelled across the Midlands to experience, critique and score three-course menus hosted in their sister homes' private dining rooms.
The road trip culminated in a grand finale lunch at Sutton Park Grange, where The Gables Care Home, represented by residents Brian Roberts, 89, Gigi Salmon, 92, and Head Chef Dwight Clayton, was officially crowned the competition winner. The home secured the top spot with an impressive score of 26 out of a possible 30points.
Residents were actively involved in creating the menus, ensuring their local tastes and home favourites were proudly showcased. Each home’s catering team prepared a bespoke three-course menu shared in advance, reflecting the unique tastes and daily high standards of their specific residents. The tour kicked off at Eastcote Park Retirement Village in Solihull, followed by a trip to The Gables Care Home in Hagley, a visit to Parkfield Grange Care Home in Stourbridge and the grand finale at Sutton Park Grange Care Home in Solihull.
Beyond the kitchen, the true success of the initiative was the social connections built between the homes. Peter Ronan, a resident at Sutton Park Grange, noted ahead of the event how much he was looking forward to sharing experiences and meeting peers from other communities.
Su Edmonds, General Manager at Sutton Park Grange, said: “This is a fun and engaging way for our residents to meet others from across Cinnamon Care Collection, building new friendships while also enjoying the wonderful meals prepared by all our talented chefs.”
To capture the fun, a mini video series was created across social media, mirroring the TV episodes. The residents have been excited to rewatch these clips and share the videos with others in their homes.
The excitement peaked during the announcement at the final ceremony, as Olivia Cameron, Head of Customer Experience, presented the winners with a commemorative plate to take back to The Gables Care Home. Head Chef Dwight Clayton, surprised by the news of his home's big win, joined the celebrations via a FaceTime call.
Dwight commented: “It was great to do something a little different and showcase our food to residents from other homes. I really enjoyed working with our own residents to create a menu that truly reflected their tastes and choices here at The Gables. I thought the highlight would be showing what we can achieve in care home dining, but honestly, the real cherry on the cake was helping The Gables secure the win.”
Plans are already being discussed for the next cross-home culinary showcase, as residents across the region look forward to keeping their newfound friendships alive.
