Ilona Tomza of Porthaven Care Homes has won the National Association of Care Catering Care Chef of the Year 2025 competition.
She was crowned in front of NACC members and guests at the NACC Training & Development Forum held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.
Caitlin Goodall of AbleCare Home and Dawn Louise Brown of Avery Healthcare’s Greenholme Care Home took second and third places respectively.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the final was held at the Loughborough College.
The 90-minute final focused on the importance of food, nutrition and positive mealtime experiences as part of quality care. Entrants were challenged to create an appealing and delicious two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting.
The combined food cost for both courses could be no more than £4.50 per head based on three portions and it had to be nutritionally balanced. The menu also had to feature at least one product from Unilever Food Solutions’ sector-relevant catering range.
The judges were looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods being used and how they support the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation and hygiene and waste management best practice.
Ilona’s dishes of Balsamic vinegar and muscovado coq au vin for main and a Whiskey and orange creme Brule with almond puff pastry fingers and semi-frozen orange segments for dessert impressed the judges.
Ilona was also awarded Highly Commended Main, while runner up Caitlin Goodall received the Highly Commended Dessert for her orange syrup semolina sponge with creme fraiche dish.