National Culinary Team emerge winners at Final Practice Dinner ahead of ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ Competition
May 25, 2016: The 2016 National Culinary Team are truly Champions; having beaten (by one point) the Legends Team at the Final Practice Dinner hosted by the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association onMonday May 23, 2016 at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The Legends comprise culinary veterans who have competed in past TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN competitions.
The National Culinary Team will depart on June 06 to attend the highly prestigious “TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” culinary competition, organised by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). “TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” is an annual culinary competition where the competitors cook, mix and present food and drink fare to be judged on taste as well as on execution of skills and presentation.
In extending the greatest support to the Culinary Team, the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister Cudjoe, noted that “Trinidad and Tobago is the epicentre of authentic Caribbean cuisine; a melting pot of extra-ordinary cultures and exotic, vibrant island flavours. And our food is the best representation of our rainbow nation. Our fusion of blends and flavours has created an eclectic cuisine that is nothing short of exciting, mouth-watering and simply irresistible. Our delightful culinary offerings can satisfy the palette of even the most discerning traveller”.
The International Culinary Tourism Association states that, on average, food travellers spend around USD$1,200.00 per trip; with over one-third of their travel budget going towards food-related activities. In this regard, our local culinary practitioners have a critical role to play.
Moreover, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that in the year 2020, the number of international tourists will reach approximately 1.6 billion. The Caribbean region has also witnessed a 2015 record of 28.7 million in international arrivals and an estimated visitor spend of US$30 billion.
Against this background, Minister Cudjoe urged tourism stakeholders “to have a different approach, a different mindset, a different commitment, and a different kind of investment… as must government. We both have our work to do. Our business is to get the visitors here, your business is to show them a good time, make them spend, and wow them to the point of returning again and again”.
The members of the 2016 National Culinary Team are:
Brandon Maharaj – Chef
Jeremy Lovell – Chef
Clinton Ramdhan – Bartender
Kimberly Jaggasar – Pastry Chef
Annelca Mendoza – Junior Chef
Adam de Freitas – Alternate Chef
Kishion Guillaume – Alternate Bartender
The Team Captain is the Executive Sous Chef of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Adrian Cumberbatch.
The 2016 National Team has a long-held reputation to maintain as this country has long been considered the culinary powerhouse within the Caribbean; being the only team to win Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year an impressive five times at TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” culinary competitions – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011. This is indeed a testament to the diligence, creativity, consistency, commitment, and grit of our flag-bearers.
