Nine Vincentians to show off Vincy Flavours

A team of nine chefs and bartenders will leave the state tomorrow Saturday, June 16th to represent this country in the Caribbean Hotel Association’s (CHA) Taste of the Caribbean cooking and bartending competition in Miami.{{more}}

The competition, which will be part of the CHA’s annual hotel and tourism conference, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Miami from June 17-19th. Also accompanying the local team would be Francelia Marksman and Sharon Hadaway, directors of the local hotel association.

Marksman and Hadaway were also coordinators of the first ever Vincy Flavour competition held last December 02, at Heritage Square. St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Taste of the Caribbean team comprises persons who placed in the local competition, which had a format designed to mirror that of the regional competition.

When the team paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves last week, the president of the local hotel association Bianca Porter said that she was thankful for the support that the team has received.

The National Investment Promotions Inc. (NIPI) is the main sponsor of the team, followed by the Ministry of Tourism.

The trip, which will cost some EC$68,000 will expose the local professionals to the new world trends and standards and Porter said that she expected the team to come back to St Vincent and the Grenadines with fresh ideas.

This will be the fifth time that St Vincent and the Grenadines is participating in the competition and Porter said that she was looking forward to seeing several executive chefs coming forth from this country and she hoped that their participation in such a large event can serve as an inspiration to them.

Dr Gonsalves wished the team his best and reemphasized the Government’s commitment to the development of tourism in this country. He told members of the team that they were ambassadors of St Vincent and the Grenadines and challenged them to see the importance of the role they play in the development of the nation.

Last Saturday, the team also hosted a gala cocktail party at the Cruise Ship Berth where several of their unique recipes and skills in the bar were on show.

Marksman told SEARCHLIGHT that she expected the team to do their best and learn a lot in the competition. She will also be delivering a presentation on St Vincent and the Grenadines’ national dish (roasted breadfruit and jack fish) at the conference.

Invited by the Puerto Rico based Caribbean Hotel Association, SEARCHLIGHT’s senior reporter Kirby Jackson will be giving coverage of the conference and following the exploits of the Vincentian team in Miami.

The team comprises chefs Marrolin Ollivierre (Young Island) , Edward Bloucher (Raffles) , Christopher John( Young island) , Rodal Miller( Young Island) , Grifford Soleyn (Raffles), Jannelle John (Technical College student) along with bartenders Lennon Sprott( Raffles, Neil Da SilvaYoung Island) , and Wendy Simons (Herron Hotel).(KJ)