The St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA) has begun preparing for this year’s edition of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico from the 9^th-12^th September 2010 at the Rio Mar Beach Resort, a Wyndham Grand Resort.  We intend to make an extra special effort in 2010 to present a winning team capable of achieving no less than a gold medal.

 

The road to Taste of the Caribbean begins with each country selecting 3 chefs, 1 pastry chef and 1 bartender to comprise their national team.  To this end we have retained the core of last year’s team and enhanced it with the addition of Chef Bobo Bergstrom as the Team Captain.  As you may recall, Chef Bobo succeeded in bringing home a gold medal in the 2003 competition and also won the prestigious “Chef of the Year� title. 

 

Other members of Saint Lucia’s culinary team this year feature first timers and seasoned competitors namely Chef Asa Johannson (Fire Grill & Lounge Bar), Chef Nicodemus Joseph (Cap Maison), Roystan Antoine (Ladera) and Alva Preville (Delirous). Pastry Chef Gilry Samuel (Rendezvous) has previously brought home Gold with his tantalizing deserts. 

 

The competition required the chefs and bartenders to present food and cocktails respectively and will be judged on taste, execution of skills and presentation.