Cooking from the heart

Award winning chef Romaney Morcos Pic Marco De Luca

By Ewen McRae

Family and friends of residents at Arcare Hillside in Sydenham gathered for a day of fun on Saturday as they opened the new-look 5-star aged care residence.

The residence hosted a community day full of activities, including meditation sessions, family portraits, a flower arranging workshop, and a Mariachi band.

But the highlight of the day for many was a cooking demonstration from the residence’s award-winning head chef Romaney Morcos, who guided onlookers through the keys to his delicious pasta dishes.

While Mr Morcos has had a varied career in restaurants around the world, he said preparing the meals for the residents in Sydenham over the past 10 years had brought him as much joy as anything he’d done previously.

“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the residents faces when they eat my food,” he said. “I love cooking for them, and they seem to love my pasta. I’m often getting special requests for this dish.

“I’m very excited about being able to share this experience with the Sydenham general public at the event.”

The renovations at Arcare Hillside include a movie theatre, private dining room, café and hair salon. Arcare community marketing officer Charlotte Cameron said the community day was a great way to show what the residence can offer.