Preparing To Mount A Title Defense

Over 10 teams from the Caribbean will throw their culinary hats into the ring June 6-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida, to compete for the honor of becoming the best chef, culinary team, bartender and pastry chef in the Caribbean. Each team is composed of two senior chefs, one junior chef, one bartender, one pastry chef and one manager.

Junior chef Marvonne Thurston; “Marvelous” Marv Cunningham, mixologist; Ron Johnson, team manager and co-administrator; chef Richmond Fowler II; junior chef Savannah Adderley; team junior chef Leonardis Moss; chef Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, team co-manager; chef Charon McKenzie, chef Jamall Small and chef Shelby Coleby comprise the Bahamian national culinary team.

They will be mounting that defense with the return of Trinidad and Tobago, the “winningest” team in Taste of the Caribbean history. The five-time champions (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011) who have been absent since their last gold-medal win are rumored to be making their return to the competition this year.

Team Bahamas however, is just as eager to continue their reign and show the local, regional and international audience, judges and their fellow competitors, what hard work, talent, team spirit, perseverance and pride would bring to the table.

“While we are going for the gold in every sense of the word, our goal is to showcase Bahamian talent — to be the best Bahamian culinary ambassadors we can be,” said Chef Ron Johnson, team manager. “A befitting example to the young chefs who watch and learn from us as they try hard to follow their individual passion.”

Since 1993, Taste of the Caribbean has been the one Caribbean culinary competition not to be missed. The one annual opportunity to network, polish professional skills and cheer on colleagues in competition, before a large audience of industry peers and food and beverage veterans. The chefs and culinary teams unite to learn, demonstrate their skills and provide the general public with an exhibition of the most savory and delectable treats of the islands — a showcase of the hottest and most popular trends in Caribbean gastronomy.

Taste of the Caribbean which is put on by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), attracts the region’s top chefs and mixologists who showcase their skills in a variety of culinary and mixology competitions.

Competition is fierce as Caribbean nations invest time, energy, funding, and national pride to ensure that they represent their country to the very best of their ability.

The second “winningest” country in the competition’s history was Puerto Rico with three wins (1997, 2012 and 2014); with Barbados a two-time winner (2010 and 2013). The Bahamas, Aruba, Antigua, Anguilla, Bermuda, Curacao, and Jamaica have one win each to their credit.

Taste of the Caribbean is more than just a forum to compete. The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) in alliance with industry partners and sponsors, support the endeavor as a means to an end.

“The Taste Competition not only gives us the opportunity to herald The Bahamas as a premier culinary destination thereby showcasing the diverse and

distinctly unique aspects of our product offering, it provides us with a fantastic opportunity to train and heighten levels of exposure for our young chefs” said BHTA Executive Vice-president Suzanne Pattusch.

She said the Bahamian team’s composition this year hold true to that theme with seasoned chefs stepping aside in certain competitions, taking younger chefs under their wing and giving them the opportunity to soar.

Four-time pastry chef of the year (2006, 2013, 2014 and 2015) and hall of fame inductee Sheldon Tracey Sweeting will take the Taste competition by surprise when he shifts from the pastry competition to battle in his specialty — savory. He will be responsible for the entrée; and has taken Shelby Coleby under his tutelage to prepare her to represent The Bahamas in the pastry category.

“Everyone has this perception of Sheldon being a pastry chef, and it will be a surprise to many that he will only be dealing with hot foods,” said Johnson.

Leonardis Moss, last year’s alternate, steps into the junior chef’s role; and Richmond Fowler who was not on last year’s hot team, but competed in an individual competition, will do an appetizer portion of the hot team competition. Jamal Small and Charon McKenzie were essential parts of hot team last year. This year, McKenzie will focus on beef; Small is the alternate and slated to do a cheesecake if the category still exists this year.

The team that began practicing in early February with five-hour sessions every Tuesday at the Bahamas Food Services (BFS) kitchen.

“The camaraderie and support is one of the most memorable aspects of the competition,” said Marv Cunningham, who went from silver medalist in 2014 to gold medal winner, and hall of fame inductee in 2015 after only one year of competition. “Our team spirit … the way we look out for each other … support each other is the best thing about the competition. These are life lessons learned for all of us. The experience is invaluable.”

The BHTA, Ministry of Tourism, Cable Bahamas (Rev On), RBC Royal Bank, Bahamian Brewery (Sands Beer), John Watlings, Atlantis Paradise Island, One&Only Ocean Club, Albany Private Club, Lyford Cay Club, BFS, Bahamasair, Betty K Shipping, Savory Art, Le Sprouts Private Catering and the College of the Bahamas are sponsors of this year’s national culinary team.

Shavaughn Moss
The Nassau Guardian
Published: March 12, 2016

Caribbean National Team of the Year past winners

2015 — Bahamas

2014 — Puerto Rico

2013 — Barbados

2012 — Puerto Rico

2011 — Trinidad & Tobago

2010 — Barbados

2009 — Trinidad & Tobago

2007 — Trinidad & Tobago

2006 — Trinidad & Tobago

2005 — St. Maarten/St. Martin

2004 — Trinidad & Tobago

2003 — Jamaica

2000 — Bermuda

1999 — Curacao

1997 — Puerto Rico

1996 — Aruba

Caribbean Chef of the Year

2015 — Jonathan Hernandez, Puerto Rico

2014 — Rashindra Donge, Bonaire

2013 — Brian Lumley, Jamaica

2012 — Devon Joseph, Trinidad & Tobago

2011 — Mitchell Husbands, Barbados

2010 — Graham Singer, Antigua and Barbuda

2009 — Glendon Carty, Anguilla

2007 — Fernando Parrilla, Puerto Rico

2006 — Hans Van Triest, Curacao

2005 — Carlos Portela, Puerto Rico

2004 — John Hazzard, Barbados

2003 — Bobo Bergstom, St. Lucia

2000 — Mark French, Puerto Rico

1999 — Martin Maginley, Jamaica

1997 — Jermey Cruz, Puerto Rico

1996 — Michael Salmon, Aruba

Caribbean Bartender of the Year

2015 — Marv Cunningham, Bahamas

2014 — Brandon DeCloux, USVI

2013 — Roberto Rodriquez, Puerto Rico

2012 — Jamaal Bowen, Barbados

2011 — Humphrey Lew Jen Tai, Curacao

2010 — Alva Preville, St. Lucia

2009 — Paul Peterson, St. Maarten/St. Martin 2009

2007 — Raymond Edwards, Trinidad & Tobago

2006 — Paul Peterson, St. Maarten/St. Martin

2005 — Rakeesh Madoo, Trinidad & Tobago

2004 — Alexandra Ballin, Anguilla

2003 — Hiram Avila, Puerto Rico

2000 — Alexander Meyer, Aruba

1999 — Ron Webster, Anguilla

1997 — Lissette Rijna, Bonaire

1996 — Neil Felix, Grenada

Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year

2015 — Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas

2014 — Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas

2013 — Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas

2012 — Pablo Colon, Puerto Rico

2011 — Kunal Chakrabarti, USVI

2010 — Maureen Bowers, Antigua and Barbuda

2009 — Alberto Febo, Puerto Rico

2007 — Rene Almeda, Puerto Rico

2006 — Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas

2005 — Geert Maarten Van Mil, Aruba

2004 — Sally Gaskins, Bahamas

2003 — Jing Shi, Jamaica

2000 — Jing Shi, Jamaica

1999 — Linval Green, Jamaica

1997 — Pascal Barronier, Anguilla

1996 — Casten Flindt, Barbados

Junior Chef of the Year

2015 — Edna Butcher, St. Lucia

2014 — Sanju Smith, Jamaica

2013 — Naomi Lovell, Trinidad & Tobago

2012 — Isaiah Connel, Trinidad & Tobago

2011 — Mikhala Bagot, BVI

2010 — Osvaldo Ortega, Puerto Rico

Apprentice of the Year

2000 — Luis Alvarez, Puerto Rico

1997 — Michael Moncrieffe, Cayman Islands