Aged care caterer wins food prize

A Melbourne catering company that works mostly in residential aged care has won a prestigious food award against stiff competition.

Above L-R: Contemporary Catering managing director Neil Shankly, Arcare Knox chef Andrew Wilson, Contemporary Catering operations manager Nick Pantelopoulos and Matteo Pignatelli, president of Restaurant and Catering Victoria.

The catering company that serves food to residents of a Melbourne aged care facility has won an accolade in the Victorian round of this year’s Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence.

Contemporary Catering beat Geelong Grammar, Melbourne University’s Medley Hall and the proprietor of Australia’s biggest catering company, Peter Rowland, to win the category for its food service at Arcare’s Knox facility.

The award was independently judged by hospitality industry professionals on criteria including ambiance, customer service, health and hygiene, occupational health and safety and of course, the quality of the food.

Managing director of the aged care specialist food service company, Neil Shankly, said the company entered the awards to raise public awareness of the high quality food that is served in some aged care facilities. The latest award is the third he has won for his work with Arcare.

“We enter these events to promote and increase the recognition of the great work being performed in the aged care sector,” Mr Shankly said in a statement.

The CEO of Arcare, Colin Singh, acknowledged there were often negative stories about residential aged care that focused on the poor quality of the food in some facilities.

“Unfortunately the aged care industry suffers in the public eye, so hopefully recognition of this sort against first class competition will help change the public’s opinion,” Mr Singh said. 

‘Celebrating good eating’ is the focus of this year’s Victorian Seniors Festival, which will celebrate its thirtieth year from 7-14 October.

The ‘good eating ambassador’ for the Seniors Festival is 81-year-old celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong, a regular guest on television program Good Morning Australia.

Victorian Minister for Health and Ageing, David Davis, said a diverse program of thousands of activities would be available around the state, thanks to $687,000 worth of grants to local councils.

“Food is vital to life in many ways,” Mr Davis said. “Food is a way to keep in touch with old friends and new, whether by cooking together, going out for meals or sharing special events.”

“The festival will feature ‘celebrating good eating’ events hosted by local councils including healthy food tours, luncheons, afternoon teas, cooking demonstrations and dinner dances.”

Public transport is free for Seniors Card holders for the duration of the festival and a new Celebrating Good Eating Guide, with suggestions on having fun with food, will be available from participating councils and Victorian Seniors Festival venues.

Call Seniors Information Victoria on 1300 135 090 for a program or visit Seniors Online at www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au to browse the online festival calendar from 1 September.

Tags: food, seniors, victoria,

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