Talented chefs showcased their culinary flair in a nail-biting cook-off to decide the winner of Sanctuary Care’s Masterchef 2022.

Ruaan Prins, chef manager of Fernihurst Nursing Home in Exmouth, scooped first prize for his two-course menu of pork loin, with puree potatoes, asparagus tips, tenderstem broccoli and a jus made from Medjool dates, followed by a chocolate fondant, with blackberry sauce and clotted cream.

It was third time lucky for Prins after he previously entered the event in 2018, when he came second, and in 2021, when he won Best Performing Chef in the South West region.

“I was so happy to win – it was definitely third time lucky! I feel very proud, especially for our catering team at Fernihurst as it’s great recognition for what we do and how hard we work for our residents,” Prins said.

The results of the competition, which is held in partnership with Unilever Food Solutions, were announced at the annual Chefs’ Conference.

One of the judges, Sanctuary Care’s, head of hospitality services, Mark Ord, said: “It was an honour to judge this year’s contest – the standard of the cooking was phenomenal, and I am incredibly proud of the talented chefs we have preparing delicious food for our residents each and every day.”

The runners-up were:

Second place – Bhanuben Patel, Aashna House Residential Care Home in London

Third place – Monica Szabo, Wantage Nursing Home in Oxfordshire

Best Presented Dish – Rowena Graham, Camilla House Care Home in Edinburgh