Carmine Tarquilio will represent Wales in the final of the National Care Chef of the Year competition to be held on 3rd June at Stratford Upon Avon College in Warwickshire. Carmine who prepares meals for residents at Monmouthshire County Council’s Mardy Park Resource Centre in Abergavenny was crowned Wales Care Chef of the Year at a competition held in Bridgend College on 13th March. The competition is designed to challenge chefs to create an innovative, tasty main and dessert menu suitable for someone in a care setting that clearly demonstrates nutritional understanding of the ingredients used, aptitude and flair in the combination of flavours, technical execution and presentation. Each meal is limited to a strict budget of just £2.25 per head and preparation in just 90 minutes! Organised by The National Association of Care Caterers (NACC), the competition’s UK finals will bring together chefs working in the care sector from across the country. Pauline Batty, NACC’s Welsh Regional Chair, said: “This competition highlights the positive impact nutrition and mealtimes have on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of the elderly and vulnerable in care settings.” Penny Jones, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for social care, added: “I’m delighted that Carmine will represent Wales in the national finals in June and I wish him the very best of success. The council recognises that catering is an important element in the provision of care and that tempting nutritious food plays a crucial part in the lives of our residents and service users.”