Posted by , Trinidad Tobago Newsday on June 20, 2009 at 15:49:19:
TT Culinary Team wins gold again
By JOAN RAMPERSAD Saturday, June 20 2009
THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Culinary Team overwhelmed its Caribbean counterparts in the prestigious “Taste of the Caribbean” culinary competition at the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico From June 12-14. For the fourth time in five years the TT team won the Caribbean Team of the Year (Gold).
The competition, organised by the Caribbean Hotel Association, featured 13 regional teams this year, who cooked, mixed and presented food and drink that were judged on taste as well as execution of skills and presentation.
Teams came from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Puerto Rico, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the United States Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
The TT culinary team, led by Bernard Long also won awards for Best Use of Angus Beef and Individual Chef (Gold).
At an Appreciation Cocktail Reception for the victorious team hosted by the Ministry of Tourism at the Hilton Hotel on Wednesday evening, Minister of Tourism Joseph Ross remarked that the team has now achieved the singular honour of being the first country to be awarded Caribbean Team of the Year four times.
“It is my great pleasure to join with you this evening to recognise the best talents in the food and beverage industry in Trinidad and Tobago and indeed in the region. Today we acknowledge seven young men and women who have contributed to showcasing Trinidad and Tobago as a gastronomic centre of excellence in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago is now the only Caribbean island to win the coveted title Caribbean Team of the Year four times. This is indeed a major triumph,” he said. Noting that the attribute that really impressed the judges about our team was how well every member worked together and helped each other in the kitchen, the Minister urged all tourism stakeholders to take inspiration from Team TT and renew their commitment to all work together to bring the industry to higher peaks and promote Trinidad and Tobago as a premier Caribbean destination. He closed by raising a toast to the culinary champions who he said had blazed a new record winning trail under the astute leadership of Bernard Long.
Also praising the achievements of the 2009 Culinary Team were Ernest Littles, President and Director of the Tourism Development Company (TDC) and Barry Bidaisee, Vice President of the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA).
The 2009 National Culinary Team comprised 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 led by Team Captain Bernard Long (Bernard’s Gourmet Services)
Listed below are the National Culinary Team’s awards at the “2009 Taste of the Caribbean” culinary competition:
Team with the highest scoring points/ Team of the Year - Gold Medal Award for the “Best Use of Beef”
Top 4 Teams in the Competition Award - gold
Individual Chefs - 1 Gold ( Sabrina Rosales)
Individual Chefs - 1 Silver (Keirha Forde)
Individual Chefs - 1 Silver (Lennox Scott)
Individual Pastry Chef - 1 Bronze (Avanelle James)
Bartender - 1 Bronze (Ryan Newallo)
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