Ilona Tomza wins NACC Care Chef of the Year 2025

Ilona Tomza of Porthaven Care Homes has been crowned National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2025.

She impressed judges with a menu of balsamic vinegar and Muscovado coq au vin for her main course and a whisky and orange crème brûlée with almond puff pastry fingers and semi-frozen orange segments for dessert.

Caitlin Goodall of AbleCare Home and Dawn Louise Brown of Greenholme Care Home, Avery Healthcare were announced as second and third places, respectively, during NACC’s Training & Development Forum at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.

The competition’s 90-minute final was held earlier at Loughborough College, with contestants challenged to create an appealing and tasty two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting.

The combined food cost for both courses could be no more than £4.50 per head based on three portions and it had to be nutritionally balanced. The menu also had to feature at least one product from sponsor Unilever Food Solutions’ sector-relevant catering range.

Judges were looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods being used and how they support the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation and hygiene and waste management best practice.

Head judge Steve Munkley said: “It was a hard-fought competition with some amazing cooking served up by all the chefs in such a variety of dishes.”

Tomza was also awarded Highly Commended Main, whilst Goodall received the Highly Commended Dessert accolade for her orange syrup semolina sponge with crème fraîche.

The importance of good hygiene practices was also recognised, with Clare Broadbent of Devonshire House, Harbour Healthcare scooping the Health & Hygiene Award. The Sustainability and Waste Management Award went to Jack Wood of Colten Care.

NACC’s national chair Neel Radia said: “I am constantly amazed by the incredible standards our chefs achieve in this prestigious competition. I have immense respect for these individuals – not only for stepping up under the intense pressure of having judges looking over their shoulders, but also for their determination to return year after year in pursuit of the ultimate accolade in care catering: the title of Care Chef of the Year.

“Raising the profile of care chefs is something we all value deeply, as it helps bring new talent into our sector. From speaking with many of these chefs, I know that once they understand the true impact they can make in others’ lives, they often stay with us for many years.”

The full list of finalists

• Lorna Parsons, Colten Care
• Jack Wood, Colten Care
• Anna Koziarska, Meallmore
• Jessica Vreede, Guthrie House Care Home
• James Adcock, Aaron Court, Abbey Healthcare
• Matthew Burke, Care UK
• Dawn Louise Brown, Greenholme Care Home, Avery Healthcare
• Alex Connell, Vegetarian for Life
• Ilona Tomza, Porthaven Care Homes
• Clare Broadbent, Devonshire House, Harbour Healthcare
• Steven Wright, Caring Homes
• Caitlin Goodall, AbleCare Homes

Last year’s NACC Care Chef of the Year winner was Samuel Sewell of Wellington Vale Care Home, part of the Cinnamon Care Collection.