Dine Around the World – Themed Dining Initiative

This month, our Ashberry Healthcare homes took a culinary trip across Europe as part of our much-loved Themed Dining Initiative. And what a wonderful adventure it was! Each home chose a different European destination to celebrate, bringing together residents and team members for a feast of food, culture, music and fun.

Our Themed Dining Initiatives are all about connection and culture — a chance for everyone to come together, share stories, and experience something new. With many of our incredible team members coming from all over the world, this theme was particularly special. It gave everyone the opportunity to share a little piece of their own culture, cooking traditional dishes and teaching residents about their home countries.

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A French Adventure for Meadowview and The Weir

At Meadowview, French Day was a delight from start to finish! From delicious food and fabulous live music by the wonderful Joanne Bristow, to everyone dressing up and getting into the spirit. Residents enjoyed a creative morning designing their own “Paris Fashion Week” looks, followed by plenty of laughter and a lot of fun!

Meanwhile, The Weir Nursing Home was transformed into France, complete with chequered napkins, floral centrepieces and French flags. Residents enjoyed a beautifully curated menu featuring coq au vin, creamy garlic mushrooms, fresh baguettes, tarte tatin and chocolate éclairs. The atmosphere was made even more special by a live performance from a local singer, who amazed everyone with timeless French chansons and familiar favourites.

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Italy Takes the Spotlight

Italy proved to be a popular destination this month, with Moorhouse Care Home, Blaenos House Nursing Home, Allt Y Mynydd, and Holmer Court all embracing the Italian culture.

At Blaenos House, residents enjoyed an all day Italian dining experience - a delicious continental breakfast (with cappuccino being the biggest hit!) to a homemade dinner of carbonara, garlic bread, risotto, and a perfect tiramisu. Resident Sheila even joined the team in the kitchen to help make pizzas for tea. Topping it all off, Dawn created her very special dessert – homemade cannoncini – the sweetest ending to a flavour-filled day!

Allt Y Mynydd hosted a long table Italian lunch, complete with breadsticks, laughter, and traditional music. The menu featured pasta Bolognese,tiramisu, and pizza which they all enjoyed in true Italian family style.

At Holmer Court, residents sang along to Eurovision classics performed by Vinyl Richie before enjoying a beautifully prepared Italian meal of spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread, vegetable bake, tiramisu, and lemon posset.

And at Moorhouse, it was all about the pizza! Residents enjoyed every slice surrounded by Italian decorations and plenty of laughter — a truly wonderful evening.

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Exploring Europe at Engelberg

At Engelberg, Italian Chef Francesco led residents on a culinary tour of Europe — with dishes inspired by Spain, Italy, Poland, and France. Informative table mats sparked conversation about travel and language, and after a delicious three course meal, Rob Burton came, who sang songs “around Europe and back to Britain.”

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Polish Tradition at Broomy Hill

At Broomy Hill Nursing Home, residents and staff chose Poland as their European destination — a fitting choice, given that several of the home’s team members are Polish! Our talented colleague Ewa took on the role of chef for the day, preparing a traditional Polish lunch and dessert that left plates spotless. Staff and residents wore floral headbands and enjoyed Polish music. It was a truly authentic and heart-warming celebration of Polish culture.

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A Celebration of Togetherness

From France to Poland, from pizzas to coq au vin, this month’s themed dining was about more than just delicious food. It was about connecting with each other and appreciating each other’s cultures. Each home created joyful moments and sparked conversations about travel, traditions, and shared experiences.

We’re incredibly proud of our teams and residents for embracing the spirit of adventure with such enthusiasm. Themed Dining continues to remind us that, with a little creativity and teamwork, we can explore the world just from the comfort of home.

If you are interested in one of our homes, please enquire here