Former Bathers’ Pavilion chef Ashley Thomson giving aged care residents the five-star dining treatment

FINE dining is generally associated with expensive restaurants, but for the residents of this aged care facility it is available every day thanks to chef Ashley Thomson.

Lansdowne Gardens in Neutral Bay, has been named metropolitan Sydney's top Industrial/Institutional Caterer. Ashley Thomson is the executive chef.

FINE dining is generally associated with expensive restaurants, but at Lansdowne Gardens it is something residents can enjoy every day.

The Cranbrook Care aged care residence in Neutral Bay has been named Sydney’s top Industrial/Institutional Caterer in the 2016 Savour Australia Awards for Excellence.

Lansdowne Gardens executive chef Ashley Thomson, who is also Cranbrook Care group executive chef, previously worked at The Bathers’ Pavilion at Balmoral Beach.

Ashley Thomson serves food to Shirley and Pam.

The Mosman resident said his Lansdowne Gardens menu would be rolled out to other Cranbrook Care sites in Sydney.

“To be an aged care facility recognised among catering companies — which have a lot more scope to work with than we do — is a large accolade,” he said.

“Cranbrook Care is at the forefront of luxury aged care and they always want the food to be the best that it can be.

“Obviously with aged care we are restricted to certain cooking, but it’s as close to restaurant standard food as you can get.”

Thomson said Lansdowne Gardens made virtually everything in-house. Residents’ dietary requirements are also catered for.

On the menu: red Thai chicken curry with vegetables.

On the menu: sweet coconut rice with mayo and lime syrup.

“We consult one-on-one with residents, their families, GPs, speech pathologists and dietitians,” Thomson said.

“None of those conditions impact on the variety or freshness of the food or anything like that.

“It’s as close to individually-tailored cooking as you can get, without having a chef for each resident.”

Meals include John Dory for lunch and braised beef cheeks for dinner.

Residents choose from three main courses at lunch and two main courses at dinner.

Ashley Thomson is a former chef at the Bathers’ Pavilion.

They also receive soup and dessert with meals and a tea trolley offers tea and coffee and cakes made on the premises.

Thomson said residents enjoyed his food. “Without being biased, they do love it,” he said.

“They love the variety and they love the freedom that they have to be able to choose what they want. They get well looked after.”

Lansdowne Gardens is in the Savour Australia Awards national final and winners will be announced later this month. The facility was a finalist in the awards last year.

Accommodation in Lansdowne Gardens varies according to the type of suite. Prices start at about $860,000.