ANGUILLA – Anguilla Chef Glendon Carty was voted the Caribbean’s Top Chef last night at the Taste of the Caribbean finals and the Anguilla National Culinary Team took home top medals in every category.
After winning a TEAM GOLD medal in Saturday’s competition, Anguilla swept the medal board on the second day of competition at the TASTE of the CARIBBEAN on Sunday June 14th. The young Anguillian Team confirmed without doubt Anguilla’s position as the premier culinary destination in the Caribbean. Team Captain Chef GLENDON CARTY (of Ripples and Cap Juluca), a 35 year old Anguillian, gained a Gold Medal for his performance and was subsequently voted overall ‘CARIBBEAN CHEF of the YEAR 2009″ – a highly respected and sought after accolade.
It was definitely Anguilla’s night as his fellow team members ALL placed highly and won medals in the competition – beating out culinary giants Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica for a raft of Medals. The level of support and enthusiasm from the crowd of Caribbean Professionals, Hoteliers and Press for Anguilla’s ‘Mouse that Roared’ performance was extraordinary.
Pastry Chef COLIN YEARWOOD (Cuisinart Resort & Spa) came second in the individual pastry competition and won a silver medal. Team Chefs JUSTIN HUGHES (Cap Juluca & Sirena) and Darren Conner (Cusinart & Da Vida) won Silver and Bronze medals in the individual Chef Competitions. In addition, Anguilla won Bronze medals for Chef DEAN SAMUELS Team Managers Presentation and a Bronze Medal and special award for “Most creative” for CATHERINE NILES (Cap Juluca) in the Bar Tender Competition. All in all Anguilla won an amazing 6 Team Golds, 2 Individual Golds, 2 Individual Silvers and 3 Individual Bronzes – meaning they topped the ‘Medal table’ at the Competition – the Caribbean’s Culinary Olympics. This is the highest position an Anguillian Chef or an Anguillian Team has ever achieved in the Taste of the Caribbean Competition. Anguilla has never won CHEF of the YEAR title before and Glendon will make regional history as the first Anguillian to do so.
Sherille Hughes, the President of the AHTA said “We are overwhelmed with pride in our Anguillian Team. They have practiced so hard for the last 18 months and all their hard work has paid off. Our only sadness is that the team members from previous years – who laid the groundwork for this great success – were not there to celebrate with us and enjoy their part of the glory.”
This fantastic achievement would not have been possible without the generous support of the team’s sponsors/funders: The Anguilla Tourist Board, The Department of Youth and Culture, Ripples Restaurant, Veya Restaurant, Cap Juluca, Cusinart Resort & Spa and Anguilla Rums.
