Residents, family members and staff had the opportunity to sample dishes from apetito’s spring/summer product 2023 range during a tasting at the Bowbrook dementia care home in Fradley, Staffordshire.

The visit by apetito’s ‘apetiser’ food van offered the home to sample new dishes, including plant-based shepherd’s pie, chicken & butterbean stew with dumplings, salmon & broccoli bake, spring vegetable medley and barbecue beans with oak-smoked bacon.

Those with a sweet tooth were also invited to enjoy apetito’s new victoria sponge and chocolate cakes, which are the perfect centrepiece for an afternoon team.

Following the tasting, everyone was encouraged to give feedback on the dishes and were also asked which dishes they would like to see on the menu at Bowbrook in the future.

Brian, whose mother-in-law lives at Bowbrook, said “The tasting event was an excellent idea. The food smelt inviting, tasted good and was easy to eat which was very important to the overall experience.”

Registered manager at Bowbrook Lucie Willday said: “We will be collating and reviewing all the feedback from the tasting and will be making informed decisions about our new menu at Bowbrook. We believe in including and empowering our residents, and events like this food tasting help us to achieve this.”

Richard Woodward, general manager of apetito’s care home division, said: “We love holding tastings as they’re a such great way to get residents, families and staff invested and interested in the food being served. It helps families learn more about the food being served and helps them relax in the knowledge that their loved ones are enjoying nutritious, delicious food.

“We think our new dishes are a great choice for residents to enjoy now the weather is getting nicer and we were delighted that the food was so well received.”