Barbados has triumphed at the 2024 Taste of the Caribbean, earning the coveted title of Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year.
Alongside this prestigious team victory, individual Barbadian talents shone brightly. Dejuan Toppin was named Junior Chef of the Year, also clinching the Hans Schenk Commemorative Award for his innovative dish utilizing indigenous ingredients. Meanwhile, Alex Chandler claimed the award for Best Non-Alcoholic Drink, adding another accolade to Barbados’s culinary success.
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This year’s event marked the first Taste of the Caribbean competition in five years and featured seven Caribbean nations battling for culinary supremacy. Competing teams hailed from Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.
Held alongside the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Miami, the event showcased the region’s culinary excellence and cultural heritage. CHTA CEO Vanessa Ledesma emphasized the competition’s deeper purpose:
“Beyond showcasing our region’s exceptional and diverse culinary and mixology offerings, Taste of the Caribbean is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to nurturing talent, providing essential resources, and cultivating opportunities that empower Caribbean culinary and hospitality professionals to thrive.”
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Other notable winners at the event included:
- José Yeye Ortega of Puerto Rico, crowned Caribbean Bartender of the Year, with awards for Best Rum Drink, Best Mystery Bar Drink, and Most Creative Bartender.
- Emmany Hippolyte of Saint Lucia, named Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year.
- Rhashindra Donge of Bonaire, awarded Best Use of Beef, sponsored by Certified Angus Beef.
Special spirit awards celebrated participants’ enthusiasm and dedication. Bonaire’s Kelvin Ventura earned the Josue Merced-Reyes Spirit of the Competition Award, while Fabien Vigee, Saint Lucia’s team manager, received the Tony Mack Spirit of the Competition Award.
Barbados’s resounding victory cements its position as a leader in Caribbean culinary artistry and innovation.
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