What does it really mean to cook for someone in the last chapter of their life? In the first episode of the NACC podcast, Care Chef of the Year 2025 Ilona Tomza shares the philosophy, the competition dish, and the resident moment that changed how she sees every plate she serves — plus what winning really opens up for a care chef's career.

About our Guest

Ilona Tomza didn't take the conventional route to becoming NACC Care Chef of the Year 2025. She arrived in England at 17 as a waitress, challenged the quality of the food being served, and was cooking professionally within six months. Years of gastropub work followed before she made the move into care catering — and everything changed.

In this inaugural episode, host Rob Spence talks to Ilona about the philosophy that drives her: that in care settings, food becomes one of the last remaining sources of joy for residents.

"We cook people's last meals," she says — and she means it in the most profound way.

The episode covers Ilona's winning dish — a coq au vin without the wine, plated with dementia in mind so every ingredient is visible and residents can make their own choices.

It covers the nerves, the waiting, and the moment the result was announced. And it covers what happened next: ITV with Kate Garraway, a Windsor Castle reception with the King and Queen, and a growing list of opportunities she's grabbed with both hands.

Now confirmed as a judge and live demo chef at the 2026 NACC awards, Ilona's advice to anyone thinking of entering is simple: "Just apply. What's the worst that could happen?"

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The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) unites, supports and represents everyone working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector. It is recognised as a respected source of information and opinion for the dynamic and growing area of care catering.

For more than 30 years, it has been committed to raising standards of care catering and championing the positive impact nutrition, hydration and mealtimes have on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of the elderly and vulnerable in care settings.

To learn about The National Association of Care Catering, please visit: https://www.thenacc.co.uk/

A massive thank you to the Sponsors of the Care Chef of the Year:

Unilever Food Solutions

Lockhart Catering Equipment

Rational

Procurement for Care

The Worshipful Company of Cooks

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Welcome to the NACC Podcast, the official podcast of The National Association of Care Catering.

Thank you for joining us for The Official NACC Podcast; the audio home of The National Association of Catering. We have a whole host of episodes due to be released over the coming weeks, and we cannot wait to share these episodes with you!

Please don't forget to follow, subscribe, and share with your colleagues and peers!

In this pilot episode, your host, Rob Spence introduces the podcast, what we aim to achieve, and explains what you can expect over the coming weeks. Our first official episode comes out on Tuesday 21st April, and from there, our episodes will be published every fortnight!

Each episode, we will be interviewing leading experts in the Care Catering sector, and we will not only get to learn about them, but we will also dive deep into the sector, the industry, and have open, honest and raw conversations that matter those working in this incredible industry.

You will not want to miss an episode!

Hosted and presented by, Rob Spence.

The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) unites, supports and represents everyone working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector. It is recognised as a respected source of information and opinion for the dynamic and growing area of care catering.

For more than 30 years, it has been committed to raising standards of care catering and championing the positive impact nutrition, hydration and mealtimes have on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of the elderly and vulnerable in care settings.

To learn about The National Association of Care Catering, please visit: https://www.thenacc.co.uk/

Thank you to our sponsors: Allmanhall and Unilever Food Solutions.

Powered by Paragon Creative Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the NACC Podcast, the official podcast of The National Association of Care Catering.

With episodes coming out fortnightly, we interview guests every episode to learn more about care catering, changes that are happening in the sector, latest news, events and much more.

We will cover everything surrounding the dynamic and growing area of care catering.

If you are looking to learn more about the positive impact nutrition, hydration and mealtimes have on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of the elderly and vulnerable in care settings, then you have found the right podcast!

Hosted and presented by, Rob Spence.

The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) unites, supports and represents everyone working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector. It is recognised as a respected source of information and opinion for the dynamic and growing area of care catering.

For more than 30 years, it has been committed to raising standards of care catering and championing the positive impact nutrition, hydration and mealtimes have on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of the elderly and vulnerable in care settings.

To learn about The National Association of Care Catering, please visit: https://www.thenacc.co.uk/

Powered by Paragon Creative Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.