The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) National Culinary team, who will represent the island at this year’s Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste of the Caribbean, in Miami from November 18 to 20, have been announced.
BHTA’s Special Project Manager, Tessalee Moore, made the announcement today at the “A Taste of Barbados – Tradition Reimagined” fundraiser, at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
Members of the National Culinary Team are: Pastry Chef, Rickeena Kirton from the Ocean Hotels Barbados; Junior Chef, DejuanToppin from the Caribbean Cuisine Culinary Institute; Senior Chef, Rynaldo Joseph from the Sea Breeze Beach House; and Mixologist Alex Chandler from Cocktail Kitchen.
They will participate in the Taste of the Caribbean event, which was on a hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Moore extended “heartfelt” congratulations to all who dared to enter the competition with the goal of becoming ambassadors for the country. She noted that it “takes incredible determination and bravery, and you are truly the chosen few”.
“So, to the 2024 team, I urge you to wear your pride for your country on your sleeve. You will be representing us against other Caribbean nations in this competition. The journey to winning may not always be pleasant, but the taste of victory is sweet,” Ms. Moore emphasised.
The team this year is being led by Manager, Adrian Cumberbatch; Assistant Team Manager, Javon Cummins; Culinary Coach, Damian Leach; and Mixology Coach, Rohan Hackshaw. They have been hard at work training the competitors three days a week, in preparation for the Gourmet Fundraising Series and the Taste of the Caribbean Competition. This training will continue into next month when the team members head off to CHTA’s Taste of the Caribbean.
The Barbados Government Information Service spoke to the four team members following the announcement.
“I feel very happy that I was chosen to be the one to represent Barbados and the people of Barbados in the competition at Taste of the Caribbean. From here is more hard work. I think we have four more weeks left to tighten up things and put things in perspective so that we are war-ready to do what needs to be done,” Mixologist Chandler said.
“So, my feeling was thankful. Thanking God always in everything that I do, and just to put my best foot forward for the competition,” Pastry Chef Kirton remarked.
Junior Chef Dejuan stated: “First and foremost, I just want to thank God, because without Him we are nothing, and my parents for being my biggest support, and all my family and friends and other persons who would have given me the inspiration to come up with different menu ideas and dishes. And I think it’s a good opportunity, and I’ll just try to make the best of it.”
And, Senior Chef Joseph, said: “I gotta big up the BHTA for actually choosing me to go to Miami. So far, it has been good and I’m thankful for everything that’s happening training-wise and for the good guidance from Javon, Adrian, and Damian. We have been fortunate to receive the criticism that they give us good or bad.”