Trinidad and Tobago’s National Culinary Team Announced
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – After a grueling series of national competitions, on Monday night the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) revealed the names of Trinidad and Tobago’s new National Culinary Team at the annual Food and Beverage Culinary Awards.
Trinidad and Tobago’s award-winning National Culinary Team will be led by a new captain as Chef Raymond Joseph of the Courtyard by Marriott, takes the reins from Chef Bernard Long.
Joseph will lead a highly skilled delegation of culinary professionals comprising of THRTA awardees for Chef of the Year – Adrian Cumberbatch of The Carlton Savannah; Pastry Chef of the Year – Cheryl Ann Shortt Charles of the Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Institute; Junior Chef – Ryan Bailey of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Bartender of the Year – Daniyel Jones of Martini Makers and chefs Devon Joseph of Chaud Restaurant and Jeremy Lovell of Courtyard by Marriott.
The team is expected to begin preparations to compete at the prestigious Taste of the Caribbean 2011, which will take place from June 22 to 26 at The Hyatt Hotel in Miami, Florida.
Delivering the feature address at the Food and Beverage Awards ceremony, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Tourism Dr the Honorable Rupert Griffith congratulated the awardees and past captains for their contribution to the development of the team. Trinidad and Tobago has won the coveted Team of the Year title an unprecedented four times at the Taste of the Caribbean competition.
Stating that his Ministry will continue to support the annual Food and Beverage Competition, Minister Griffith also issued a challenge to the THRTA “to explore the possibility of establishing a Senior National Team to participate in the Culinary Olympics, the oldest and most prestigious international culinary competition in the world, with a view to marketing Trinidad and Tobago’s cuisine on the global stage as well as to further expose local chefs to international competitions and standards.”
Also speaking at the event was President of the Tourism Development Company Ernest Littles who announced that the TDC would provide support for the National Culinary Team to compete at the Taste of the Caribbean competition.
“By supporting the Association in providing a showcase for the ingenuity, innovativeness and creativity of our young culinary professionals, this event has provided a valuable staging point for young persons seeking to kick-start a profession in the food and beverage industry,” President Littles said.
“Culinary tourism,” he added “is poised for growth with the potential to increase earnings at all levels of our local economy, your efforts will ensure that Trinidad and Tobago retains its well deserved reputation as the most delicious destination in the Caribbean.”