Tourism
BHTA BARBADOS NATIONAL CULINARY TEAM GIVES ‘SNEAK PEEK’ AHEAD OF 2025 TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN COMPETITION
THE Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) recently hosted a Meet and Greet event to provide an update on the Barbados National Culinary Team’s on-going training in preparation to defend the title of Caribbean National Team of the Year at the upcoming Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste of the Caribbean Competition this month.
During the exclusive event guests were also treated to a taste of the mouth-watering dishes and signature cocktails created by Junior Chef Dejuan Toppin, Senior Chef Rynaldo Joseph, Pastry Chef Rickeena Kirton and Mixologist Alex Chandler; guided by Team Manager Chef Javon Cummins, Culinary Coach Chef Willis Griffith and Mixology Coach Rohan Hackshaw.
BHTA Special Projects Manager Tessalee Moore expressed appreciation for the on-going support for Team Barbados and explained that the event was twofold: “Firstly, we wanted to recognise the invaluable support of our sponsors and partners, whose contributions make the team’s training and competition journey possible.
“Secondly, the event provided members of the team with the opportunity to showcase the innovative dishes and cocktails they have been developing as they work to retain the regional title and continue to position Barbados as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.
“It is important to note that Team Barbados is actually the double defending champion at Taste, having captured the prestigious title of Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year consecutively in 2019 and 2024. The competition was not held between the years 2020-2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Team Manager Chef Javon Cummins shared that added to that; this year’s competition was particularly meaningful as Taste of the Caribbean will be hosted in Barbados for the first time: “The competition will be held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados from November 16 to 18, so as expected, the team is under even more pressure to retain the top position as we are competing on home soil. Our chefs and our mixologist have been putting in lots of handwork and effort – training several days a week to perfect dishes, cocktails and every detail.”
The BHTA has proudly managed and coordinated the Barbados National Culinary Team since the early 1990s, providing a platform for the island’s chefs and mixologists to develop their craft, gain international exposure and promote Barbados’ world-class culinary talent.
In 2024, Team Barbados also captured several major individual awards at Taste including Junior Chef of the Year, Best Non-Alcoholic Drink and the Hans Schenk Commemorative Award for the Most Innovative Indigenous Ingredients, along with other gold and silver medals. (PR)
