Kim Edwards has a secret cooking ingredient. Love!  

The Chef Supervisor at Newnham Community Aldersgate Village relishes bringing joy to residents’ days with the meals she prepares, putting her heart and soul into every dish she creates.

Her role entails overseeing the cooks in the kitchen, especially with the Maggie Beer Trainer Mentor Program now underway at Aldersgate Village along with Sorell Community Ningana in Tasmania and Strathdon and Kingsville Communities in Victoria.   Another three sites – Manor Lakes, Preston and Box Hill – are part of the second wave that will start the training in July.

The Maggie Beer Foundation, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care, is delivering education and training to improve the dining, food and nutritional outcomes for Australian elders in aged care.  On completion, the site as well as the cooks and chefs, will receive a Maggie Beer Foundation certificate valid for two years.

“Already the residents are saying they love the new stocks and gravies we are infusing with herbs,” explains Kim.  “We are also making the meals protein-rich, so even sweet slices have protein added to them to build up residents’ strength.”

Launceston raised Kim, who married a chef, has been in the food industry for 23 years.  She’s cooked at cafes and at a number of aged care facilities, and says Aldersgate Village is hands-down the best place she’s worked at so far.

“It is a super-supportive environment, and my mentor and inspiration is Hotel Services Coordinator Chris Dolbey.  I’ve been here two years and already Chris has taught me so much!”

Kim says there is a huge amount of variety in the role – she cooks dietician-designed meals as well as all the sweet and savoury goodies for high teas. “I always say you eat with your eyes,” Kim adds.  “The food needs to look appealing.”

There are also the monthly-theme day lunches, ranging from Italian to Mexican, from Indian to Sri Lankan and everything else in between, which are always fun.

Kim also enjoys whipping up two new surprise dishes which she presents to the residents for their feedback in the monthly Food Focus meeting.  “They’re not shy in voicing their opinions,” she laughs. “If they like it I include it in the menu.  If it’s a no, well I never serve it again!”

She also enjoys creating hearty winter dishes – lamb shanks, silverside with sauce, rich stews and roasts.  Another favourite is creating beautiful birthday cakes, which she delivers to residents while singing happy birthday. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating and Kim loves the recipes so much that she reproduces them at home for dinner.  

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