STAFF and residents at a Bracknell care home are soy happy.
Farley Garden care home’s managing director, Duncan Edwards, from Barchester’s South West Division, and his team of fellow MDs have brought home the bacon and won the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2026.
Duncan’s team, the Pressure Cookers, made up of managing directors and a hospital director from five of Barchester’s divisions, went head to head with members of Barchester’s executive team, the Rolling Scones, to cook up a storm and win the coveted Cook Off crown whilst raising vital funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.
With money still coming in, the Cook Off 2026 has already raised £53,000.
Duncan said: “I absolutely loved being a part of this.
“It was a fantastic team effort and I am so proud of what we all achieved.
“It just goes to show you can do anything when you all pull together.
“The dishes we created looked amazing and were delicious if I do say so myself.
“I was especially pleased with the incredibly moreish sweet potato and chickpea curry.
“The icing on the cake was the amount of money we raised thanks to the support of all our homes so I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated.”
The Charitable Foundation helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life.
Each year it distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales.
In 2025 it achieved a donation milestone of £424,000 which enabled the charity to provide vital help to 262 small groups and charities, and 123 individuals.
The Pressure Cookers beat the Rolling Scones with their menu, and a choice of three different starters.
The judges said their lobster bisque with chive crème fraiche and croutons was an absolute triumph.
For the main course they conjured up cod loin with beetroot, asparagus and champ mash, or homemade sweet potato and chickpea curry.
Dessert options were white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, or rhubarb crumble custard tart.
And for their afternoon tea item, they created a sausage plait with red onion chutney, which the judges agreed was to die for.
Senior general manager of Farley Gardens care home, Simona Cioinac, said: “We are all in awe of Chef Duncan.
“Is there nothing he can’t do?
All of the MDs did a brilliant job and raised so much money – they are an absolute inspiration to us all.
“The Foundation is a cause very close to all our hearts so this is a remarkable achievement.”
To support Duncan, people can visit: barchester.com
