Juniper’s Hospitality team recently took their culinary skills on the road to Kununurra to visit everyone at Juniper Gerdewoonem and cook a traditional barbecue meal, with plenty of expertise from customers.
Along with an opportunity to get to know customers at the residential aged care home, gather feedback, and train and mentor staff, the Kununurra visit provided catering staff with some pointers on preparing perfect damper.
Juniper Hospitality Services Manager Kirrie Hall said a chat with customer Helen Clifton about their shared love of cooking resulted in the exchange of a lot of handy cooking advice.
“It turned out that Helen was giving me a master class in damper making and barbecuing,” Kirrie said.
“Now, I do have some experience in this area, but you know what, she gave me some more useful tips like using my knuckles to push the dough flat.”
The trip was also a great way for the Juniper team to gather ideas from customers on what they would like to see on the upcoming dry season menu and to gain an insight on how they cooked meals over the years.
Kirrie said connecting with customers reinforced the ideal of food bringing people together, and it was a treat to hear the uplifting memories that sharing food had provided customers.
“Helen loved being involved and said that making bread gives her great joy and that it was a weekend job when lots of family were around,” Kirrie said.
“Her memory is that it ‘fills them up’ and gives them an inner warmth and satisfaction.”
With dining outdoors hugely popular in the Kimberley, a barbecue of beef short ribs, chicken drumsticks, potato bake, damper and fresh salad was well received from everyone.
“Customers love the outdoor cooking, they love the smell, the fire and the group activity of being all together enjoying food,” Kirrie said.
Enquire
1300 313 000