Lucerne House celebrates cook-off success

Staff and residents at Lucerne House care home in Exeter are celebrating after their Managing Director, Natasha Lazovic, from Barchester’s South Division, stepped out of her comfort zone to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2024. 

Natasha went head to head with the managing directors from Barchester’s four other divisions, cooking up a storm and raising £24,595 for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

The charity helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life. 

The foundation distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups, and charities across England, Scotland, and Wales every year.

In 2023, the foundation achieved a donation milestone of £225,000, which enabled it to provide vital help to 160 small groups and charities, plus 87 individuals in one year alone.

For the Cook Off Challenge, Natasha prepared roast chicken breast with smoked bacon mash and a wild mushroom veloute sauce before she moved on to her sticky date and ginger sponge with caramel sauce.

Above: Natasha's dessert. Image: Barchester Healthcare

Both dishes were very well received by the judging panel, made up of members of Barchester’s executive team. 

Although Natasha narrowly missed first place, the judges highly commended her efforts. Her division raised an impressive £11,595 for the Foundation, the highest amount of any group.

Natasha said: “I love cooking for friends and family, but it was a very different experience to go head to head in the kitchen with all the other Barchester Managing Directors—a very competitive environment! I am very proud that my division raised the most for Barchester’s Foundation. I know the money will be put to very good use supporting vulnerable people and helping them to connect with their local communities. Our Foundation does amazing work.”

Above: Cook-off participants. Image: Barchester Healthcare

Sally Coletti, general manager of Lucerne House care home, added: “We are all so proud of Natasha for taking part in this challenge; she really is amazing—is there anything she can’t do! Her dishes looked absolutely fantastic, and she raised so much for the Foundation; we think she is an absolute superstar!”