Happy and healthy in the Blue Haven kitchen

Blue Haven’s Head Chef Adriaan Mak and his team make sure residents at our Blue Haven Aged Care Facility receive delicious and nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

That means preparing more than 400 meals a day, seven days a week.

Adriaan has been head chef since Blue Haven Bonaira opened in 2019. Working closely with dieticians and responding to feedback from residents, the team provides an ever-changing menu, balancing the five food groups, with an emphasis on fresh produce.

We caught up with Adriaan in between service times.

What inspired you to become a chef?

My grandparents taught me to cook from a young age and ever since then that’s what I wanted to do. During High School I did cooking classes and then went on to get an apprenticeship, traveling from Bankstown to Cremorne five days a week by public transport.

What is different and rewarding about cooking for older clients?

It’s about delivering what our customers like. There are many tastes to please but our team does an amazing job providing well balanced meals which have been approved by our dietician. The reward is in the pudding: seeing the residents happy and healthy.

Any specifics to consider?   

We have many different factors to take into account as we need to supply meals such as puree, mince and moist, soft and bite size to our normal meals. While doing that, we add extra protein into some meals, and ensure all the food groups are provided to our residents. Of course the residents also have a choice and a voice, so we continue to improve our meals form their feedback as well.

What are the most popular dishes?

Roasts with traditional vegetables, silverside, Asian dishes, BBQs, grilled salmon steaks, grilled snapper fillets and braised steaks.

Tell us about the seasonal menus?

We change the menu as the seasons change trying to use the freshest produce we can. We also listen to the residents and change the menu based on their feedback.

What’s the best thing about working at Blue Haven?  

The best thing is the residents and staff, greeting them each day and being able to provide good meals and great service. As well as that, the kitchen staff are loyal and hard working under a lot of pressure.

You’re currently recruiting…

We are always looking to bring in new chefs and kitchen hands with good knowledge and experience so please apply as we have positions to fill as we grow. The best thing about working in our kitchen is that all staff have a voice and we love to hear fresh ideas.

Check out our current job postings:

https://bluehavenillawarra.com.au/about-us/careers/