Roadtown Tortola BVI, Monday, June 27, 2011 - Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE was among the many celebrants who welcomed the team and commended them for their outstanding performance stating that the winnings are “a good dose of medicine for the tourism industry” and he is proud.
Loud cheers erupted at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport this afternoon as the BVI National Culinary Team entered the VIP lounge flaunting their five gold, one silver and three bronze medals captured at the at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual “Taste of The Caribbean” competition held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Miami, Florida from June 23–26.
“This accomplishment shows what could be done when people work together and remain committed, dedicated and focused in completing a task,” Premier O’Neal, who is also Minister for Tourism, said. “This is an example for our youth to follow,” he said, Premier O’Neal further stated the winnings can entice and attract more tourists to visit the BVI because of the delicacies being offered and he is pleased that the Premier’s Office contributed $8,000 toward the team’s participation in the event.
Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board Mr. Neil Blyden said this achievement means “we have another outstanding product to sell.” He added that the BVI can now boast of being a “culinary giant”.
Chairman of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) Dr. Bernie Harrigan said the team was like a “symphony working together.”
She said the practise sessions at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and dinners at hotels and restaurants around the Territory helped to hone the skills of the team during the preparation stages.
Head coach of the culinary team Chef Henry Prince of HLSCC said the team spent nine months preparing for the competition. “The goal during preparations was to keep the team at a striking level so that the team remains consistent and close to the gold,” he said. The team participated in qualifying rounds of “live kitchen” competitions. They prepared a three-course meal in less than four hours using a mystery basket of ingredients. The team also competed in ice carving, beef and seafood preparations.
The team is comprised of Head Coach Chef Henry Prince;Team Captain Chef Kenneth Molyneaux, Treasure Isle Hotel; Chef Imran Ashton, Charlie’s; Chef Caswall Ponte, Little Dix Bay Resort; Junior Chef Mikhala Bagot; Pastry Chef Macgarvey Thompson and Brentfield Lettsome, HLSCC; Jason Dalmida Jr., Bitter End Yacht Club; Pastry Chefs Ansony Salmon, Peter Island Resort & Spa; and Bartender Elton Sprauve, Mine Shaft Cafe.
This year’s competition included culinary teams from Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, BVI, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USVI. The other teams which won gold included Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The BVI National Culinary Team has won gold, silver and bronze medals in previous years and aims to recapture the Gold Medal for the BVI in 2011.
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British Virgin Islands News