Oct 2020
International Chef's Day - meet Georgina Chef at OSJCT Goodson Lodge, Trowbridge
“Organising themed meals makes an event for our residents, it’s entertaining for them."
The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) is marking International Chef’s day (20 October) by highlighting and recognising its hard-working chefs; meet Georgina Dyer, Chef at Goodson Court in Trowbridge.
Georgina has worked in catering for over 30 years having been inspired by her mum who baked at home every weekend when Georgina was young. She said: “I was good at cooking, it came naturally to me, it was the obvious career choice.
“I love my job and cooking makes people happy. Seeing the look of happiness and joy on the faces of residents, excited by food they are enjoying, is the best reward.”
Georgina, who has a City & Guilds qualification in catering and Level 3 in Food Safety and Health & Hygiene, joined Goodson Lodge in March 2019. Her career included three years cooking for between 60 - 1,000 military personnel at RAF Lynham, and a total of 18 months catering for the Army, RAF and contractors on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.
As chef, Georgina organise menus based on feedback and preferences from the 50 or so residents. During winter the menu has lots of stews, cauliflower cheese, baked pies, jacket or dauphinoise potatoes. It is a homely style of cooking that Georgina enjoys and is favoured by residents.
The home also organises themed events, Georgina explained: “Organising themed meals makes an event for our residents, it’s entertaining for them.
“Last month we held an afternoon tea for the Last night of the Proms, I’m organising a German themed Oktoberfest with sausages, sauerkraut and strudel. And we put extra special effort into the Christmas meals, like creating tied vegetable parcel and homemade Christmas cakes.
Georgina spends her spare time walking in the fresh air and visiting family. Even at home she is likely to be cooking for friends. She said: “You can’t take the entertainer out of me. I love cooking even at home, so if there’s an event, you’ll usually find me in the kitchen!”