Most chefs need to be fully aware of food allergies cooking for diners in restaurants.
But chef Sean Kilgour also faces the task of learning about hundreds of different health conditions while working in an Aberdeen care centre.
Each day he cooks up meals for the 44 residents living at Dee View Court diagnosed with a range of neurological disorders – who all have different dietary requirements.
And this, Sean says, can leave even the most experienced of chefs facing unique challenges.
What’s the most unusual dish he’s been asked to create?
Many residents prefer traditional Scottish food like mince and tatties but Sean and his team like to give each dish a twist to allow for some variety on the menu.
The care centre chefs have also created an Around the World in 80 Days series exploring different cuisines.
Each day involves serving up breakfast followed by two three-course meals to residents diagnosed with complex conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease.
Watch our video below to find out why some residents need 4,000 calories a day
Some are on soft diets and rely on pureed food, while others can eat regular dishes prepared in a slow cooker to tenderise all the ingredients.
Chatting to the residents is an important part of Sean’s role and the chef and his team all know each resident by name.
They’re even aware of their favourite foods and often accommodate unusual requests.
“Someone even asked for Spam fritters the other day,” the care centre chef explains.
“I don’t think I’d even cooked with Spam before so that was a new one for me!”
The care centre chef has faced his own health challenges…
Sean started working at the Sue Ryder centre in Kincorth in May last year after he was made redundant from his role in a catering business during Covid.
Only weeks after losing his job, he spent time in hospital undergoing a double hip operation.
“I had arthritis in my hips,” he explains. “I played a lot of football when I was younger so I just thought it was wear and tear.
“I’d been living with it for a good couple of years and just got on with it.
“But it got to the point where the pain was unbearable and I got an X-ray and discovered I needed both hips replaced.”
Sean spent four months recovering from the surgery by focusing on physiotherapy to get himself back into shape before he took on his role with Sue Ryder.
He’s joined a great team of staff who’ve been working hard during the pandemic to come up with creative ways to help residents.
