WHEN THE Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival comes off this week, past and present members of the Barbados Culinary Team will be among the featured chefs and mixologists showcasing their skills at the events.
They are Ezra Beckles, Creig Greenidge, Michael Hinds, John Hazzard, Michael Harrison, Henderson Butcher, Angela Garraway-Holland, Wilwore Jordan, Janelle Crawford, Antonio Sivers, Julian Broome, Willis Griffith, Trenel Ifill, Katrina Depeiza-Hall, Marvin Applewaithe, Trevon Stoute, Javon Cummins, Jamaal Bowen and Rohan Hackshaw, who will be featured at two of the main events – Sunday Bajan Fiesta and Ambrosia.
Michelle Smith-Mayers, assistant vice-president with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, which manages and coordinates the Culinary Team, explained that all 19 of the chefs and mixologists have represented Barbados on the team at some point:
“Once a member of the Culinary Team, always a member – this is our mantra and all of the past members are still very much a part of the team. They all lend their support and some manage and train the team as well.
“So we have an experienced group and they are all looking forward to the festival, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and expertise at an international festival being held right here at home,” Smith-Mayers explained.
She added that the Culinary Team has been representing Barbados for over 25 years at a number of competitions, trade shows and events locally, regionally and internationally, including Taste of the Caribbean, Barbados on the Water (Canada), Taste of Summer in New York, Barbados Expo in China, Taste of London, Barbados Expo in South Carolina, Americas Chef Competition, South Beach Food and Wine, Aspen Food and Wine and the Caribbean Cruise Association Conference.
This year’s team brought home an impressive 11 awards from the 2014 Taste of the Caribbean Competition held in Miami, including the prestigious Hans Shank Commemorative Award for Most Innovative Menu Utilizing Indigenous Ingredients and Best Non-Alcoholic Drink and Rum Drink.
The Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival is hosted by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., and further information can be obtained by visiting www.foodwinerum.com. (PR)
