GOLD! That’s what Barbados’ culinary team is bringing home from this year’s Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste Of The Caribbean competition in Puerto Rico.
Emotional team members yesterday broke down in tears when Alec Sanguinetti, CHTA’s director general and chief executive officer, announced that the 11-member team had taken four of the top awards, including Team Gold.
The other awards for Barbados are bronze in the Bartender category, Best Use Of Certified Angus Beef and the Hans Schank Commemorative Award for the Most Innovative Menu.
Competing against ten other Caribbean territories, including host Puerto Rico, Barbados’ team included chefs Mitchell Husbands (team leader), Andre Nurse, Wilwore Jordan, Thaddeus Sealy (alternate), Henderson Butcher (team manager), Creig Greenidge (team manager/trainer), Stephanie Sayers (junior chef), Pastry Chefs Janelle Crawford and Ezra Beckles (alternate), and bartenders Harold Harper and Andre Tull (alternate).
Sue Springer, BHTA executive vice-president, and assistant vice-president, Michelle Smith-Mayers, congratulated the team, noting that it had done Barbados and the BHTA proud.
“They had little time to prepare, but they came to Puerto Rico and pulled out all the stops and have been rewarded for it,” Springer said
Taste Of The Caribbean is the annual celebration of Caribbean cuisine and beverage and provides the opportunity for the contestants to network and polish professional skills as they compete before a large audience of industry peers and consumer culinary enthusiasts.
