Nellsar Catering Team
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Meet the Nellsar Catering Team

From our Chefs and Head Chefs to our Kitchen and Dining Assistants, meet the people who make up our amazing Catering Teams across our 13 Care Homes. Lead by Adrian Silaghi (Head of Catering Services) they are all committed to providing the highest standards of food and dining for our residents. Our teams work together to ensure all of our residents’ nutrition, hydration and special dietary requirements are met, with a variety of delicious meals and snacks every day.
Adrian Silaghi - Head of Catering Services

Adrian Silaghi

Head of Catering Services

Adrian began working in the catering industry in 2010 and first joined Nellsar as Head Chef for Princess Christian Care Home in 2015. Now as Head of Catering Services, Adrian leads by example and shares his passion for care catering across our 13 Homes. Adrian cites empathy as one of the most important qualities to have to be a successful Chef in the care industry, and his creativity and drive make him a very inspiring leader. Adrian constantly strives to raise the standards of Nellsar’s catering provision including what we offer residents with special dietary requirements, and he is renowned for his skills in soft and puréed food presentation.
Alex Popa-Barth Head Chef, Abbotsleigh Care Home

Alex Popa-Barth

Head Chef, Abbotsleigh Care Home

Alex Popa-Barth joined the Abbotsleigh team in 2017; first as a Healthcare Assistant, progressing to Kitchen Assistant shortly after. With a passion for catering and the drive to develop his knowledge and skills, Alex was soon promoted to Head Chef. Striving to make a positive difference to the lives of Abbotsleigh residents through cooking, Alex listens to their preferences and incorporates them into the menus. Alex leads his Kitchen Team by example, always supporting and encouraging them to put forward their ideas. The quality of food presentation and service is extremely important to Alex and he was very proud to be shortlisted in the 2020 Great British Care Awards.
Savio Jose Chef, Abbotsleigh Care Home

Savio Jose

Chef, Abbotsleigh Care Home

Savio Jose joined the team at Abbotsleigh Care Home in December 2019. His calm and proactive character means he is a very talented Chef; his delicious meals ensure our residents stay healthy, comfortable and content. Always able to cater to special dietary requirements and preference’s, Chef Savio is able to adapt menus quickly and effectively. A real team player, he is very caring and polite and always puts everyone first. Chef Savio creates delicious desserts and is famed for his lovely food and nutritious homemade soups.
Sanoj George - Chef, Bromley Park Care Home

Sanoj George

Head Chef, Bromley Park Care Home

Appointed Head Chef in March 2021, Chef Sanoj first joined Bromley Park in September 2018. A superb Chef with an individualised style, Chef Sanoj creates broad menus and nourishing meals for his residents. Chef Sanoj specialises in hot and cold Continental, Oriental and Asian cuisine, including healthier options. Chef Sanoj has over 15 years’ extensive industry experience and is very driven. Progressive in his work, Chef Sanoj consistently supports and develops his team. With incredible attention to detail, he and the Kitchen Team go above and beyond, always striving to develop the catering standards and food service for their residents.
Kay Smith, Head Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Kay Smith

Head Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Kay joined the team at Hengist Field Care Home in 2011 and her journey is one of real inspiration. Beginning as a Care Assistant, Kay progressed to a Senior Carer and then Kitchen Assistant; after two years’ training she became the Head Chef and Kitchen Manager in 2018. Working alongside Adrian Silaghi, Kay is concentrating on developing her staff in order to maintain their superior catering provision. Passionate about developing menus tailored to suit her residents’ clinical needs and personal likes and dislikes, Kay also loves to enhance their dining experience – whether that be with calm, social dining or eating alone in the privacy of their own room.
Johnny Dawson - Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Johnny Dawson

Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Chef Johnny has been a valuable part of the Nellsar Catering team since 2007 when he first worked as a Chef at Lukestone Care Home in Maidstone, and then Head Chef Abbotsleigh Care Home in Staplehurst. Johnny moved to Hengist Field – our flagship Home in Sittingbourne – in 2018, where he is seen as a role model by his Kitchen team and by others in the Home. A keen fisherman in his spare time, Chef Johnny remains an inspiration to other Chefs in the Nellsar Group with his professionalism and passion. Chef Johnny strives to consistently improve on both the food quality and its presentation, and catering for any residents with special dietary requirements.
Miguel Silva  Trainee Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Miguel Silva

Trainee Chef, Hengist Field Care Home

Originally from Portugal, Miguel came to the UK in 2016 and began working at Hengist Field as a Kitchen Assistant in 2019. As part of our continual staff development programme, Miguel embarked on a Nellsar Chef apprenticeship; under the tutorage of Head Chef Kay Smith, Miguel looks forward to qualifying and working as a main Chef for the Home. With a calm personality, Miguel is very reliable and offers great all-round support to the Kitchen team. Head Chef Kay encourages and supervises Miguel to cook for a minimum of one day per week, and he recently trained in Kitchen admin to help with internal operations and ordering from suppliers.
Paul Bish Head Chef, Loose Valley Care Home

Paul Bish

Head Chef, Loose Valley Care Home

Paul joined the team at Loose Valley Care Home as Head Chef in May 2022. with a wealth of catering experience. Having worked in commercial kitchens within pubs, restaurants and hotels throughout his career, Paul also has previous care catering experience having worked in Care Homes. Paul’s great passion is supporting his team and cooking tasty, nutritious food for his residents – especially Chinese food!
Cosmin Cristea - Head Chef, Princess Christian Care Home

Cosmin Cristea

Head Chef, Princess Christian Care Home

Chef Cosmin began working at Princess Christian in 2015, and his inimitable motivation drives him to consistently develop himself both personally and professionally. Originally from Romania, Cosmin also speaks English and Spanish. He began working under the expert tuition of Adrian Silaghi (Head of Catering Services) before being promoted to Head Chef. He is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of food service, leading and nurturing a team of Kitchen staff, while ensuring residents are content and enjoying a nutritious, varied diet. Cosmin is studying Management and Leadership; his hard-working nature and strong desire to learn and progress are what makes him such as asset to our team.
Cosmin Cristea - Head Chef, Princess Christian Care Home

Cosmin Cristea

Head Chef, Princess Christian Care Home

Chef Cosmin began working at Princess Christian in 2015, and his inimitable motivation drives him to consistently develop himself both personally and professionally. Originally from Romania, Cosmin also speaks English and Spanish. He began working under the expert tuition of Adrian Silaghi (Head of Catering Services) before being promoted to Head Chef. He is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of food service, leading and nurturing a team of Kitchen staff, while ensuring residents are content and enjoying a nutritious, varied diet. Cosmin is studying Management and Leadership; his hard-working nature and strong desire to learn and progress are what makes him such as asset to our team.
Cristian Pitic - Chef Assistant, Princess Christian Care Home

Cristian Pitic

Chef, Princess Christian Care Home

Since joining the Princess Christian Kitchen Team in 2018 as a Kitchen Porter with no previous catering experience, Cristian achieved a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health and was promoted to Kitchen Assistant. After progressing to Chef Assistant, Cristian enrolled on a Production Chef NVQ course in 2019 and became a qualified Chef in March 2021. A keen gym-goer, Cristian is very disciplined and driven; his ambition to develop his skills and his perfectionist nature make him an outstanding team member. Cristian is a great support to Head Chef Cosmin Cristea and he works on residents’ individual menu plans, along with our Dining Room Assistants.
Paul Fazecas  Kitchen Assistant, Princess Christian Care Home

Paul Fazecas

Kitchen Assistant, Princess Christian Care Home

Paul joined Princess Christian Care Home in 2017; he is a valuable team worker and very keen to develop himself and his skills. Always there to provide support to the Kitchen team, Paul is indispensable, and his contribution enables the Home to continually deliver a great food service for our residents. With a positive attitude toward his work, Paul is proud to be part of such a progressive catering team. Both Paul and his wife, who works in our domestic department, are committed to their roles and are very popular, kind people. Outside of work, Paul is a very passionate football player.
Daloney Carlton  Dining Room Assistant, Princess Christian Care Home

Daloney Carlton

Dining Room Assistant, Princess Christian Care Home

Daloney is a highly valued senior staff member who joined the Home in 2014. First working as a Carer and then a Senior Carer, Daloney has worked within the Catering team as a Dining Room Assistant since 2018. Extremely passionate about caring for our residents, Daloney goes above and beyond while also supporting them on visits to the Hairdresser or hospital, or for any personal errands. Daloney is dedicated to improving our catering provision across the board; she personally manages our residents’ individual menu plans to ensure we cover all their nutritional, cultural and clinical needs, tailored to suit their preferences. Daloney is very proud of her children and granddaughter, and her daughter also works within the Home.
Andrew Maclean Head Chef, St Winifreds Care Home

Andrew Maclean

Head Chef, St Winifreds Care Home

Andrew joined St Winifreds as their Head Chef in November 2020. Having started his career washing up in university campus kitchen in the early 90s, he passed a college course and became an Apprentice Chef. Andrew was once a Tapas Bar Chef, a Canapé Chef, and while working in corporate and private event catering, he cooked for Princess Margaret and Desmond Tutu. Adding a touch of finesse to the plate, he thinks food and dining should be fun and exciting as well as tasty and nutritious; Andrew believes mealtimes are the focal point of each day and he is passionate about showing his kitchen team how to pack flavour into each dish.
Lewis Want Chef Assistant, St Winifreds Care Home

Lewis Want

Chef Assistant, St Winifreds Care Home

Having joined the Catering Team at St Winifreds Care Home in February 2022 Lewis is a very welcome addition to the kitchen. Lewis previously worked for an exclusive Golf Club in Deal and a highly renowned gastro pub. Making pies and baking delicious cakes are some of Lewis’ favourite things to do and he enjoys cooking new dishes and learning new techniques with Head Chef Andrew.
John Whelan Head Chef, The Old Downs Residential Care Home

John Whelan

Head Chef, The Old Downs Residential Care Home

John is a team player and an inspirational leader to the Catering Team at The Old Downs. With previous Care Catering experience, John joined the Home in October 2021, bringing a passion for cooking colourful, appetising meals for his residents. John is also developing the Home’s offering of modified food textures and menus for people with special diets. Placing great emphasis on excellent food service, John looks forward to mentoring and teaching the younger members of staff.
Sebastian Dumitru Head Chef, Woodstock Residential Care Home

Sebastian Dumitru

Head Chef, Woodstock Residential Care Home

Originally from Romania, Sebastian joined the team at Woodstock Residential Care Home in May 2022 with five years’ experience – previously working in Italy. Sebastian is ambitious and keen to continually develop his skills, while making a positive difference to his residents’ lives, and he looks forward to mentoring the Junior Chefs at Woodstock. As Head Chef, Sebastian is adept at cooking all types of food and he loves a challenge; Prawn Linguine is his signature dish!

Nellsar has 13 Care Homes throughout Kent, Surrey and Essex

Care Home in Bromley

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home in Maidstone

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Care Home in Dartford

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal, Kent

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home Surrey

Princess Christian Care Home
SURREY

Silverpoint Court Residential
Care Home ESSEX

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Care Home in Bromley

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

The Old Downs Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal Kent

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home
WOKING

Silverpoint Court Residential Care Home
CANVEY ISLAND