In a change from their day jobs and proving themselves to be exceptionally good sports, the Managing Directors from Barchester Healthcare’s five divisions donned their aprons and got busy in the kitchen competing in Barchester’s first ever MD Cook Off. Their aim was to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, and between them, MDs Alison Donaldson, Fiona Fagan, Angela Bradford, Natasha Lazovic and Sue Gallagher and their divisions raised a phenomenal £24,595. These funds will support small charities and individuals all across the UK.
Tension in the kitchen was high as the MDs got busy cooking up a storm for Barchester’s team of judges to taste. The competitors were tasked with preparing two dishes which were plated up and blind tasted by a panel of exacting judges headed by CEO, Dr Pete Calveley. All of the food prepared was of an incredibly high quality but it was Alison Donaldson, MD for the North West and Midlands, who beat the competition to the Cook Off crown with her Chicken Roulade stuffed with pork and apple sausage in a mushroom, shallot and Madeira sauce followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding served with clotted cream and edible flowers.
Chairperson of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, Commercial Director and one of the judges at the Cook Off event, Simon McCall, commented: “I already knew how fiercely competitive our MDs are but I had no idea they were such amazingly talented cooks! I was absolutely blown away by the standard of their cooking. It was incredibly difficult to choose but in the end Alison just edged ahead with her delicious flavours. I can’t believe we managed to raise almost £25,000 in just one day but I am so grateful to Mervyn Knights for coming up with this idea and organising the whole event, it was a genius suggestion and I want to thank everyone involved for really getting behind the initiative. This is a huge amount of money and it will help support so many good causes. I’m already looking forward to next year’s MD Cook Off!”
