Imagine starting your day with a hearty English breakfast, enjoying Coq au Vin for lunch, and savouring beef ravioli with creamy tomato sauce for dinner, followed by white chocolate and lemon panna cotta for dessert. All these meals are prepared by internationally recognised, award-winning chefs.
Where are you? It could be a 5-star restaurant in London or Paris. But no, you are at St Vincent’s Aged Care in Kew, Victoria.
This is a typical daily menu prepared by chefs David Martin and Harry Shen.
David, Harry, and their team are revolutionising the perception of food in aged care. “I give the best that I can to our residents,” David said. “We are part of a special time in their lives. We can show love and care through our food and leave a lasting impression.”
“Preparing food for aged care residents is a complex task,” said Harry. “While many residents can enjoy a standard meal, those with swallowing difficulties need their food modified. We transform meals into different textures while ensuring they are filling and appetising. It can’t just be a lumpy splat on a plate.”
Their passion for preparing tasty and thoughtful dishes that cater to individual tastes and dietary requirements is evident. They focus on creating exceptional dining experiences for all residents. And it’s more than just what’s on the plate. The cutlery, crockery, lighting, and music all contribute to the dining experience and are part of their daily plan. David and Harry agree that the most important thing is delivering what they prepare with love and care.
Over the last year, the team has showcased their skills in several culinary competitions worldwide competing against restaurants and hotels, demonstrating that aged care is at their level, not below it:
• Australian Professional Chef of the Year 2023: Competition finalist Top 32 out of 200 David Martin
• IHHC Culinary Competition in South Australia 2023: 2nd place
• 2024 International Salon Culinaire in London. Previous winners include celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and Michelin Star-winning chef Michael Deane
• Mystery Grand Prix Basket: Silver medal against 16 of the world’s best teams
• Tilda National Team Chef of the Year 2024: Silver medal against 8 international teams
• Waitrose National Team Chef of the Year 2024: Highly commended award
• Australian Culinary Federation Restaurant Challenge: Gold medal for Best Dessert in competition Alongside Head Chef Cory Rowlands & Head Pastry Chef Richelle Carmona
• Australian Professional Chef of the Year 2024: Competition finalist Top 32 out of 230 Harry Shen
United by a shared vision, David and Harry are committed to elevating the quality of aged care food. They strive to push boundaries one plate at a time, inspiring other chefs to join the aged care sector and contribute to improving standards across the industry. By consistently pursuing excellence, they aim to enhance the well-being and satisfaction of residents now and in the future.
St Vincent’s Care and the St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland are proud of the astonishing work that David, Harry, and their team do each day. Their work flows on to other aged care facilities around Australia, demonstrating that love and care can drive resident satisfaction. Your support of St Vincent’s Care’s work makes a huge difference to not only our residents, but staff just like David & Harry. It gives them an opportunity to influence a whole industry by breaking down negative impressions and show what can be done with passion.
