BHTA Names 2017 National Culinary Team
Team members will compete at the illustrious Taste of the Caribbean; an intensely competitive, highly regarded regional culinary competition hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in Miami, Florida, June 2nd to 6th 2017, where Caribbean nations bring along their best Chefs and Bartenders to compete in a variety of categories.
The 2017 National Culinary Team Members include: Chef Mario Adderley, Team Manager, University of The Bahamas (UB); Chef Emmanuel Gibson, Team Captain, “Manuelo Lettuce Eat”, Chef Tamar Rahming, Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, Junior Chef Kenria Taylor, UB; Apprentice Chef, Ryan McIntosh, Sandals Royal Bahamian; Chef Angel Bantacourt and Chef Kevyn Pratt, One and Only Ocean Club; Dicienzo Storr and Gino Longley, Mixologist and Alternate Mixologist respectively, Melia Nassau Beach, Chef Carvison Pratt, BahaMar; Chef Owen Bain, “Cassava Grill” and Grand Bahamian, Asteir Dean, Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club, Abaco. Team Consultants include Chef Jay Lockhart, “Jay’s Catering/Private Chef”, and Chef Jamal Petty, Courtyard Marriott. Team Administrator is Charlotte Knowles Thompson; Bridget Murray, is UB Liaison for the team.
The Chefs on the National Culinary Team are sponsored by their respective employers who represent a wide cross section of hotel properties in The Bahamas including: Baha Mar, Courtyard Marriot, Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, Melia Nassau Beach Resort, Sandals Royal Bahamian; One and Only Ocean Club. In addition, a young Chef from Grand Bahama is supported by Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board and his employer, Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club, Abaco. The University of The Bahamas’ Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute is providing their training facilities as the Team will undergo an intensive training process to prepare for competition.
“The excitement and enthusiasm emanating from Team Members is infectious” states Carlton Russell, President of BHTA. “The Team members are eager to represent The Bahamas, to show their regional competitors, and their fellow culinarians what they are capable of. The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, working alongside our partners and sponsors, is so pleased to support this endeavor as it serves to promote The Bahamas as a premier Culinary Destination, with an abundance of world class Chefs and Mixologists who can deliver flavors of food and beverage, that are spectacular; indigenous and unique to The Bahamas”.
The Team will be following in the formidable footsteps of their forefathers, as The National Culinary Team (2015/2016) won the coveted title of “Caribbean National Team of the Year” in 2015; and brought home Hall of Fame status consecutively, for categories such as Pastry Chef of the Year (three years in a row) and Caribbean Bartender of the Year (two years in a row). Both achievements are precedent setting feats. In 2016 the Team won Gold in Team of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year; and Hall of Fame Gold Medal Status in the Seafood Category.
“The Bahamian Team will have all eyes on them at the competition” states Charlotte Knowles Thompson, Team Administrator at the BHTA. “Over the past several years; particularly in the last few years; The Bahamas has become the team to beat, so the pressure will be on team members to perform, but what is important here is how the team works together to support each other. Already we can see the team gelling beautifully, so in a sense we are already successful in achieving our goal”.
In addition to the Chef Corporate Sponsors, The National Culinary Teams’ participation is made possible through the efforts and support of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and is partners; The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Cable Bahamas (Rev On), Key Platinum Sponsors of the team; Sandals Royal Bahamian, Gold Sponsors, Bahamian Brewery (Sands Beer), Bahamas Food Services, Bahamas Air and The MailBoat Company.
For any further information please contact spattusch@bahamashoteltourism.org
Caption: Pictured from left to right; Front Row; Dicienzo Storr, Mixologist, Chef Emanuel “Manny” Gibson, Team Captain, Charlotte Knowles-Thompson Team Administrator, Suzanne Pattusch, Executive Vice President, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, Chef Mario Adderley, Team Manager, Gino Longley, Alternate Mixologist. Back Row from left to right; Chef Asteir Dean, Chef Kevyn Prat, Chef Angel Bantacourt, Chef Tamar Rahming, Junior Chef Kenria Taylor, Chef Carvison Pratt; Chef Jamal Petty, Team Consultant, Chef Owen Bain, Apprentice Chef Ryan McIntosh, Chef Jay Lockhart, Team Consultant
