Master chef at new Chester care village to compete with best at cooking contest

Nelko Yordanov, 40, will be up against other challengers and the clock to whip up innovative and exciting main and dessert courses, designed especially for customers in care environments, at the National Association of Care Catering (NACC)'s Care Chef of the Year competition.

Two finalists from each of the regional contests will then go forward to the national finals later this year.

Whilst the exact details of the dishes remain closely guarded until the competition on July 12, the chef has revealed plans to emphasise a variety of colours, textures and flavours, matching his approach to his cooking at what will be the new £21 million Belong care village on City Road.

The new Belong Chester care village.

Commenting on his shortlisting, Nelko said: "I'm very excited to be competing and I'm looking forward to showing people that social care catering is not perhaps what people perceive it to be - instead, it is quite the opposite!"

Originally from Bulgaria, the chef has been fascinated with food from a young age, starting off as a porter, before developing his cooking repertoire alongside reading engineering at university. Upon graduating, he swapped his overalls for an apron to indulge his passion and later completed a Masters qualification in hospitality, catering and international tourism.

Since then, Nelko has gained extensive experience in food and catering management, including the running of his own restaurant and as executive chef at another leading care provider.

He joined the Belong team as part of its ongoing recruitment drive and has been working at the organisation's established villages in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, in preparation for Chester opening on July 18.

Having recognised Nelko's creative culinary talents, the group's hospitality and catering manager, Samantha Jackson, put him forward to represent Belong in the competition.

Nelko continued: "I feel happy and fortunate to be working at Belong as their values and ethos align with my own and I love the fact that the ‘village living' model of care means our bistro will also be open to the wider community."

A first for the region, Belong Chester will also feature an on-site integrated children's nursery, also set to be served by Nelko and his team. Its aim is to bring people of all ages together to benefit from the increased wellbeing that intergenerational connections can foster, for example, when dining together.

General manager of Belong Chester, Patrick Butler, also commented: "We are delighted to have Nelko leading the bistro and catering team; he is creative, has a clear vision for our food provision and how it can be used to enhance the daily life of older people, including those living with dementia, as well as our young customers in the nursery."