At Wellford Gardens, we pride ourselves on our fantastic food. Together with his team, our Executive Head Chef, Andy, is passionate about giving every resident and visitor a top-notch culinary experience. We use only the freshest and most delicious ingredients so we can be sure our residents are enjoying the very best. 

Food for every season

When it comes to creating menus, Andy is constantly inspired by his environment: “I love to cook meals which are in keeping with the seasons and the weather, the kinds of foods which comfort you in the winter or refresh you in the summer. My main source of inspiration though is the residents themselves. Food is such a powerful tool for both bringing people together and evoking memories. Many of the people for whom I cook are living with dementia, so cooking foods which bring back joyful memories is hugely important to me and is a big influence on my menu choices.”

Food for wellness

Andy is passionate about the key role which food plays in wellness. That doesn’t mean exclusively cooking extremely healthy dishes, it means cooking meals which spark joy and bring a smile to our residents’ faces. 

In addition to his main menus which consist of a meat, fish and vegetarian option at lunch and dinner each day, Andy has alternative menus with around 30 meal options available at any one time. It’s very important to Andy that our residents have access to the same foods as they would enjoy at home, for example, a fresh omelette, or a treat such as fried chicken and chips. “We have a policy that anything a resident wants, if we can make it with what’s in stock, we will, and if not, we’ll order it in straight away.”

Andy likes cooking all foods, but he particularly loves barbeques as they’re a great way of getting our residents outdoors, something which Andy values. His signature dish is his barbequed Sunday roast, where the meats are cooked and served outdoors alongside traditional sides such as roast potatoes and vegetables. 

Food for thought

If reading about Andy’s fantastic cooking has whetted your appetite to learn more about Wellford Gardens, get in touch with us today to plan a visit. We look forward to welcoming you into our home and seeing whether the service we provide could be the right fit for you or your loved one.