Members of Anguilla's Culinary Team, following tireless committed months of culinary practice and fundraising drives, are all set to leave the island on Tuesday, June 21  to compete in the Taste of the Caribbean competition organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). 

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Miami from June 22-26. Anguilla’s own comes up against ten teams from around the region vying for top culinary honours in various categories. 

The ongoing friendly rivalry will be between the islands of The Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands. Based on Anguilla’s past reputation of excellent performance, notwithstanding its small size, the underlying, almost unspoken goal among the teams is always to top Anguilla. 

Teams will participate in qualifying rounds from a mystery basket competition format, preparing a three course meal in less than four hours, using ingredients that are unknown to them until the competition begins. This year Anguilla's six member competition team is comprised of a Team Manager, two chefs, a pastry chef, a bartender and a junior chef. The team members include:

• Team Manager - Mr. Dean Samuel, Executive Sous Chef – Cap Juluca
• Mr. Glendon Carty (2009, Caribbean Chef of the Year) – Chef Ripples/Cap Juluca 
• Mr. Justin Hughes –Chef Cap Juluca
• Ms. Shirmel Gumbs- Pastry Chef, Cap Juluca
• Mr. Joseph Hodge- Junior Chef, Cap Juluca
• Ms. Taffy Hodge- Bartender, Viceroy

Anguilla will also compete in the popular Individual Chef of the Year competition which has been re-structured and will be re-launched at this year's competition.  A new component of the competition is the Taste of the Island Competition which will be opened to the public.

Individual gold awards this year are designated for the following categories: Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Junior Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Individual Chef of the Year.  Choosing to compete in the individual competition segments are:

• Mr. Jordel Gumbs, Viceroy
• Mr. Lester Gumbs, Cuisinart Resort and Spa
• Mr. Darren Conner, Viceroy Anguilla and
• Mr. Jonathan Hughes, Cuisinart Resort and Spa.

In addition to the various competitions there are several educational and inspirational seminars, workshops, tastings and demonstrations adding to the professional development aspect of the event. For instance, one session highlights agriculture and tourism and another the importance of cuisine regionally and nationally. 

 

Anguilla's Culinary Team is grateful for the opportunity to represent their beloved island. To help finance their trip to compete they have hosted a number of fundraising events, ranging from a car wash in The Valley to a posh culinary event at Viceroy Anguilla where they recognized their mentor Anguilla's own culinary giant Mr. George Reid.

The team, which was not in a position to compete in the event last year due to financial constraints, recognizes that they would not be able to compete this year without the assistance of the Anguillian community and key supporters and sponsors, and would like to take this opportunity to thank the following:

• Platinum Sponsor: The Anguilla Tourist Board
• Gold Sponsors: Cape Air, Ripples Restaurant, Cap Juluca, Cuisinart Resort and Spa, Viceroy Anguilla and Merchants Market.
• Supporters and Contributors: American Airlines, Mrs. Brenda Carty, Mrs. Gecheal Gumbs, Anguilla Villa Company, daVida Restaurant, Barrel Stay, Sandy Island Restaurant, Sand Bar, Straw Hat Restaurant, Tasty's Restaurant, Veya Restaurant, Bridal Affairs and Beyond, Caribbean Silk Screen, EVASS Printers, Picante Restaurant, Dolce Vita Restaurant, Board of Directors of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association and Board of Directors of the Anguilla Tourist Board, British Dependency, Black Orchid Florist, Alloyd’s and the Government of Anguilla.