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JUNIOR CHEF COOK OFF COMPETITION CONTESTANTS SELECTED
Twelve aspiring chefs have been selected to take part in the 2023 Junior Chef Cook Off Competition.
This year, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc remains committed to empowering the next generation of Barbadian chefs. This was made evident at the official media launch of the Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition, held on July 10th.
The Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition, which is a signature Festival event, epitomizes the overall Festival’s theme of ‘Feed the Future’. The finals take place on Saturday, October 21st from 4pm-7pm at the Bajan Fair.
The Most Anticipated Cook-Off
Twelve young aspiring chefs will go head to head, in an immersive training period, honing their skills under the mentorship of the esteemed Chef Peter Edey.
Then the top participants will face off, putting their skills and creativity to the ultimate test.
(Back row L-R) Dejuan Toppin, Raphael Blenman, Kobe Balgobin, Gabrielle Bynoe, Rojae Griffith.(Front row L-R) Reese-Ann Alleyne, Domonique Grant, Sian Edwards, Ashonnia Taitt and Jade Harewood.
(Front row L-R) Reese-Ann Alleyne, Domonique Grant, Sian Edwards, Ashonnia Taitt and Jade Harewood.
“The Festival has been with us now for 12 years and we thought that if we were to have any longevity then we really needed to ensure that we develop the stars that will be the future of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival,” said Aprille Thomas, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
She added that this year a tourism component will be introduced to the competition so participants will be out in the field during the training process to get hands-on experience. This year the entire competition will be filmed and curated similar to MasterChef Junior and Chopped Junior
After a selection process conducted by a panel of judges, twelve individuals ranging from 16-21 years old were chosen to compete in the competition. The selected contestants are Reese-Ann Alleyne, Kobe Balgobin, Raphael Blenman, Gabrielle Bynoe, Achon Callender, Sian Edwards, Dejuan Toppin, Dominique Grant, Mya Thornhill, Rajae Griffith, Jade Harewood and Ashonnia Taitt.
The Competition
The Junior Chefs will undergo an 8-week training which will include culinary and destination tours, challenges and elimination rounds. For most of the rounds, contestants will work as individuals, however, there will be the occasional team challenges.
The final eight contestants will then compete in the semi-finals and the top four will battle in the finals to see who the next Junior Chef Champion will be.
Empowering the Next Generation
The Cook-Off Competition was first established in 2022, where two winners received scholarships to the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute. This year the stakes are higher, and the prizes are even bigger as one winner will receive BBD $3000 cash, a scholarship to the Caribbean Cuisine Culinary Institute and an internship at the historic Crane Resort Barbados.
Though The Crane Resort has partnered with the Festival over the years, this is the first time the resort will be sponsoring an internship at one of their top restaurants.
Christopher Forbes, General Manager at The Crane Resort stated he is looking forward to welcoming the winner of the Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition to his team and providing them with the opportunity to experience different types of cuisine.
“The winner will be able to experience the pace in any of the restaurants as well as the cuisine while working with the ladies and gentlemen at the back and front of the house. They will able to see the movement of a large resort over a three-month period,” he explained.
Supporting Aspiring Chefs
The finals for the Junior Chef competition will be held in front of a live audience on October 21st, 2023, at the Bajan Fair, which is a new family-friendly event added to this year’s Festival. Admission for the Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition finals is $USD 15.
Tickets for the Festival including Junior Chef will be available for purchase on Friday, July 14th at foodandrum.com. (PR)