Barbados Named Caribbean National Culinary Team Of The Year

Barbados was named the Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year, in Miami, Florida at the Taste of the Caribbean Competition 2024, on Wednesday, November 20.

The team participating in the competition, from November 18 to 20, comprised Pastry Chef, Rickeena Kirton from the Ocean Hotels Barbados; Junior Chef, Dejuan Toppin from the Caribbean Cuisine Culinary Institute; Senior Chef, Rynaldo Joseph from the Sea Breeze Beach House; and Mixologist Alex Chandler from Cocktail Kitchen. 

They were led by Manager, Adrian Cumberbatch; Assistant Team Manager, Javon Cummins; Culinary Coach, Damian Leach; and Mixology Coach, Rohan Hackshaw.  

The last competition was in 2019, where Barbados also copped the coveted title of Caribbean National Team of the Year.  This year’s event was held in conjunction with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual industry conference, the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), at Florida International University’s Kovens Center, Miami.

The event featured seven Caribbean destinations competing in a friendly but fierce battle for culinary supremacy. Other participating teams were Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

In addition to being awarded Team of the Year, the members also won other awards. Winning Junior Chef of the Year was Dejuan Toppin; Best Non-Alcoholic Drink was won by Alex Chandler; and the Hans Schenk Commemorative Award for the Most Innovative Indigenous Ingredients was won by Dejuan Toppin. Rickeena Kirton was awarded silver for Pastry Chef of the Year, and Rynaldo Joseph was awarded silver for Chef of the Year.

Taste of the Caribbean is the region’s premier culinary competition, food and beverage educational exchange and Caribbean cultural showcase. Since 1993, the Caribbean’s best chefs and culinary teams have united at Taste to compete and demonstrate their skills, as well as learn from each other.

CHTA CEO Vanessa Ledesma noted: “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.  The heartbeat of Taste lies in the community it has created. The camaraderie, the connections, and the collective spirit are what make it truly extraordinary.” 

For the full list of winners, persons may visit https://chtataste.com/taste-of-the-caribbean-2024-winners/.

Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg