News: Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago Take Top Honors At Taste Of The Caribbean 2013

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KTCprTheresa M. Oakes / T.Oakes@KTCpr.comKayla Lynskey / K.Lynskey@KTCpr.comTelephone: 516-594-4100#1013

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Click here for the full press release about the 2013 Taste of the Caribbean winners.

BARBADOS, JAMAICA, PUERTO RICO, BAHAMAS, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

TAKE TOP HONORS AT TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN 2013

MIAMI, FL (July 2, 2013) – The meals have been made, the cocktails stirred and the pastries baked. Judges have scored every detail of the “Taste of the Caribbean” culinary competition which led to the crowning of Barbados as the Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, sponsored by Alouette, Anco and International Dairy Farms. The highest individual honors were bestowed upon Brian Lumley, Jamaica, for Caribbean Chef of the Year, sponsored byPRG Solutions; Roberto Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, for Caribbean Bartender of the Year, sponsored by Rums of Puerto Rico; Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas, for Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Albert Uster Imports, Inc.; and Naomi Lovell, Trinidad & Tobago, for Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year. The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) hosted “Taste of the Caribbean” June 26 – 30, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency, Miami.

Barbados celebrates winning the coveted Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year title.

Caribbean National Team Medals sponsored by Alouette, Anco and International Dairy Farms

Winner: Barbados
Gold Medals: Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago
Silver Medals: Anguilla, Curacao, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Bronze Medals: Bonaire

Brian Lumley, Caribbean Chef of the Year 2013

Caribbean Chef of the Year presentation ceremony featuring (l-r) Richard Doumeng, president, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association; John Buck, PRG Solutions; Caribbean Chef of the Year Brian Lumley; Jamaica, Vanessa Ledesma, director of operations and events, CHTA; and head judge Peter Olsacher, Bahama Breeze.

Caribbean Chef Medals sponsored by PRG Solutions

Winner: Jamaica – Brian Lumley, Embassy of France in Jamaica
Gold Medals: Jamaica – Brian Lumley
Silver Medals: Anguilla – Lester Gumbs; Bahamas – Emmanuel Gibson; Barbados – Andre Nurse; Curacao – Adriyel Lourens; Puerto Rico – Joel Rodriguez; Suriname – Jethro Daniel Wirth; and U.S. Virgin Islands – Dennis Vanterpool
Bronze Medals: Bonaire – Robertico Bernabela and Trinidad & Tobago – Jeremy Lovell

Caribbean Bartender of the Year presentation pictured (l-r) Richard Doumeng, president, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association; Manuel Benitez, Rums of Puerto Rico;Caribbean Bartender of the Year Roberto Rodriguez, Puerto Rico; Josue Merced Reyes, head bartender judge; Vanessa Ledesma, director of operations and events, CHTA; and judge Peter Olsacher, Bahama Breeze.

Caribbean Bartender Medals sponsored by Rums of Puerto Rico

Winner: Puerto Rico – Roberto Rodriguez, Instituto De Banca San Juan
Gold Medal: Puerto Rico – Roberto Rodriguez; Trinidad & Tobago – Clinton Ramdhan; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Brandon DeCloux
Silver Medals: Anguilla – Levon Richardson; Bahamas – Charon McKenzie; Barbados – Rohan Hackshaw; Bonaire – Tarimar Thom; Curacao – Glenn Kemp; Jamaica – Melissa Fletcher; and Suriname – Michel Marlon Blackson

Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year presentation featuring (l-r) Richard Doumeng, president, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association; head judge Peter Olsacher, Bahama Breeze;Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas; Sergio Mueller, AUI; Augusto Schreiner, head pastry judge; and Vanessa Ledesma, director of operations and events, CHTA.

Caribbean Pastry Chef Medals sponsored by AUI – Albert Uster Imports

Winner: Bahamas – Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Private Chef
Gold Medals: Bahamas – Sheldon Tracey Sweeting; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Eric “Bernie” Burrell III
Silver Medals:Anguilla – Lashaunda Davis; Barbados – Julian Broome; Puerto Rico – Pablo Colon; and Trinidad & Tobago – Cheryl-Ann Shortt Charles
Bronze Medals:Jamaica – Lincoln Peterkin; and Suriname – Giovanni Ismael Asmo
Honorable Mention: Bonaire – Junior Janga; and Curacao – Carlos Anthonij

Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year Naomi Lovell, Trinidad and Tobago, celebrates her award with Richard Doumeng, president, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association; Vanessa Ledesma, director of operations and events, CHTA; and head judge Peter Olsacher, Bahama Breeze.

Caribbean Junior Chef Medals

Winner: Trinidad & Tobago – Naomi Lovell, student of the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute
Gold Medals:Dwayne Sinclair; Barbados – Javon Cummins; and Trinidad & Tobago – Naomi Lovell
Silver Medals:Anguilla – Mtima Daniels; Curacao – Ashohary Julian; Jamaica – Jay Samuda-Thomas; Puerto Rico – Julio Lamberty; and Suriname – Vanina Candes Tjon a Tjoen
Bronze Medals: Bonaire – Giovannie Veld; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Ilejah Crabbe

Individual Competitions

Following are the results of the individual competitions that took place during Taste of the Caribbean:

Caribbean Ice Carving Competition

Silver Medal & Ice Carver of the Year: Jamaica – Hamac Palms
Bronze Medal: Bahamas – Ancilleno Solomon; and Jamaica – Dwight Cross

Seafood Competition

Winner Seafood Competition: Barbados – Nathan Crichlow
Gold Medals: Barbados – Nathan Crichlow; and Suriname – Sherwin Alexander
Silver Medals:Anguilla – Laureen Anique Perkins; Jamaica – Gian Stewart; Jamaica – Rochelle Grindley; and Trinidad & Tobago – Jeremy Lovell
Bronze Medals:Bahamas – Ron Johnson; Curacao – Shanot Ocalia; Puerto Rico – Joel Rodriguez; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Gary Klinefelter

Certified Angus Beef Competition sponsored by Certified Angus Beef®

Gold Medal and Winner Beef Competition: Bahamas – Jamal Small
Silver Medals:Barbados – Kenneth Whittington; Curacao – Adriyel Lourens; Suriname – Randy O’Brien Smith; Suriname – Tirsa Semaja Braumuller; Trinidad & Tobago – Adrian Cumberbatch; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Dennis Vanterpool
Bronze Medals: Anguilla – Claudio Gumbs; Jamaica – Dwight Cross; and Puerto Rico – Angel Santiago

Rums of Puerto Rico Mystery Basket Competition

Winner Rums of Puerto Rico Mystery Basket Competition: Puerto Rico
Gold Medals: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Silver Medals:Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago
Bronze Medals:Anguilla, Bahamas, Bonaire, Curacao, Jamaica and Suriname

Cheesecake Competition sponsored by Alouette, Anco and International Dairy Farms

Winner Cheesecake Competition:Jamaica – Teresa Clarke
Gold Medals: Curacao – Carlos Antonij; Jamaica – Teresa Clarke; Puerto Rico – Pablo Colon; and Trinidad & Tobago – Janelle Olliviere
Silver Medals: Bahamas – Ron Johnson; Barbados – Julian Broome; Barbados – Michael Harrison; and Jamaica – Rochelle Grindley
Bronze Medals: Suriname – Giovanni Asmo; and U. S. Virgin Islands – George Sittig
Honorable Mention: Bonaire – Norison Conquet

Following are the special awards that were bestowed at Taste of the Caribbean:

Best Team for Taste of the Islands: Trinidad & Tobago
Taste of the Islands People’s Choice, sponsored by Ask Me Inc: Puerto Rico
Best Use of Chocolate, sponsored by Albert Uster Imports: Team Bahamas for their team dessert Chocolate with Caribbean Flavors White, Dark Chocolate, Lime and Passion Fruit Bavarian, Banana Ice Cream, Caramel White Chocolate Cream Cheese Ganache, Chocolate Cake, Spiced Mango Sauce, Ginger Pudding, Buttered Chocolate Crumble, Cinnamon Tuille
Best Use of Certified Angus Beef – Sponsored by Certified Angus Beef®: Barbados – Nathan Crichlow
Hans Schenk Commemorative Award for the Most Innovative Dish Utilizing Indigenous Ingredients: Team Bonaire for Fresh Mango Mousse Topped Carrot Cake served with Candied Red Pepper and Spicy Smoked Mango Salad, Red Pepper Paint and Cocoa Tuille Sticks
Most Impressive/Creative Menu for a Gastronomy Event, Sponsored by Media Blast: Team Anguilla
Best Rum Drink: Puerto Rico
Best Vodka Drink: Trinidad & Tobago
Best Non Alcoholic Drink: Puerto Rico
Most Creative Cocktail: Chutney Bacchanal – Barbados
Tony Mack Spirit of the Competition: Team Bahamas

Taste of the Islands

One of the highlights over the course of the five days was the Taste of the Islands festival, presented by Ask Me, Inc., which was open to the public and saw 570 consumers at the event who came to sample gourmet Caribbean appetizers, desserts and signature cocktails, gather information about their favorite Caribbean destinations, and listen to authentic Caribbean music.

The Taste of the Islands highlights the street foods that are common throughout the region. Each competing team was given a “protein mystery basket” with a large selection of ingredients in a common pantry. From these ingredients the teams created two savory dishes, one dessert item and one rum-based cocktail. Trinidad and Tobago took home “Best Team for Taste of the Islands” while Puerto Rico won the “People’s Choice” award sponsored by Ask Me, Inc.

Sponsors

This year’s host sponsors include CHTA, Interval International and MasterCard Worldwide, Bartender of the Year sponsor: Rums of Puerto Rico, Chef of the Year sponsor: PRG Solutions; Pastry Chef of the Year sponsor: AUI – Albert Uster Imports; Taste of the Islands Sponsor: Ask Me, Inc. – All About Hospitality Solutions, Team of the Year sponsors: Alouette, Anco and International Dairy Farms; Sponsors: Certified Angus Beef, Exposure4, Henkell & Co., and Media Blast; Product Sponsors: Certified Angus Beef, Freshpoint, General Hotel & Restaurant Supply, Halperns’, Kent Quality Foods, Mountain States Rosen Company, Sysco and US Meat Export Federation; Media Supporters: Art & Gator, Caribbean Journal; HCP Aboard, Modern Luxury, and supporting sponsors American Airlines and Virgin Holidays.

For more information about Taste of the Caribbean visitwww.chtatasteofthecaribbean.com, www.Facebook.com/CHTATasteoftheCaribbean and Twitter.com/CHTATasteCarib or call (305) 443-3040.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members.

For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Follow CHTA on Facebook Facebook.com/CaribbeanHotelandTourismAssociation and TwitterTwitter.com/CHTAFeeds

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