The meals have been made, the cocktails stirred and the pastries baked. Judges have scored every detail of the “Taste of the Caribbean” culinary competition which led to the crowning of Barbados as the Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, sponsored by Alouette, Anco and International Dairy Farms.

The highest individual honors were bestowed upon Brian Lumley, Jamaica, for Caribbean Chef of the Year, sponsored byPRG Solutions; Roberto Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, for Caribbean Bartender of the Year, sponsored by Rums of Puerto Rico; Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Bahamas, for Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Albert Uster Imports, Inc.; and Naomi Lovell, Trinidad & Tobago, for Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year. The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) hosted “Taste of the Caribbean” June 26 – 30, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency, Miami.

Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year title went to Barbados.

Caribbean Chef of the Year winner: Jamaica – Brian Lumley, Embassy of France in Jamaica.

Caribbean Bartender of the YearwWinner: Puerto Rico – Roberto Rodriguez, Instituto De Banca San Juan

Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year winner: Bahamas – Sheldon Tracey Sweeting, Private Chef; and U. S. Virgin Islands – Eric “Bernie” Burrell III

Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year winner: Trinidad & Tobago – Naomi Lovell, student of the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute.

One of the highlights over the course of the five days was the Taste of the Islands festival, which was open to the public and saw 570 consumers at the event who came to sample gourmet Caribbean appetizers, desserts and signature cocktails, gather information about their favorite Caribbean destinations, and listen to authentic Caribbean music.

The Taste of the Islands highlights the street foods that are common throughout the region.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com
Taste of the Caribbean, www.chtatasteofthecaribbean.com