Dual-island nation’s Culinary Team Takes Top Honors at Taste of the Caribbean 2009
Port of Spain, Trinidad – The Trinidad & Tobago Culinary Team has once again proven that they are the best in the region by taking home their fourth Caribbean Team of the Year title in five years, at the recently concluded Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition that was held June 12-19, 2009. Lead by team-captain Bernard Long, Trinidad & Tobago also won gold for Individual Chef Competitions and Best Use of Angus Beef.
Organized by the Caribbean Hotel Association, the competition, held at the Caribe Hotel in Puerto Rico, involved 13 regional teams that included Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Puerto Rico and St. Martin/St. Maarten. Each team cooked, mixed and presented food and drink that were judged on taste, execution of skills and presentation.
Members of the 2009 National Culinary Team were pastry chef Avanelle James (Crews Inn Hotel), bartender Ryan Newallo (Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute), alternate chef Margaret Jones (Cara Suites Hotel), Chef Keirha Forde (Courtyard by Marriott), Chef Sabrina Rosales (Local Chef of the Year), Chef Lennox Scott (Botticelli’s) and team captain Bernard Long (Bernard’s Gourmet Services).
At a cocktail reception hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Minister Joseph Ross commended the team on their achievements. “Today we acknowledge seven young men and women who have contributed to showcasing Trinidad & Tobago as a gastronomic center of excellence in the Caribbean. The destination is now the only Caribbean island to win the coveted title Caribbean Team of the Year four times. This is indeed a major triumph and we all are so very proud of the team.”
