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From left: Peter Olsacher, executive chef, Bahama Breeze; Ada Esteves, Puerto Rico Tourism Company; Glendon Carty, Anguilla; Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association; and Rick Crossland, head judge.

Glendon Carty named Chef of the Year

Trinidad and Tobago takes team honours

The entrées have been made, the drinks have been mixed, desserts have been sampled, the judges have cast their votes and Glendon Carty of Anguilla has been named Chef of the Year at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) 'Taste of the Caribbean' culinary competition, which took place June 12-14.

The team from Trinidad and Tobago earned Highest Scoring Team honours. Awards were also given to Paul Peterson from St Maarten/St Martin, who was named Bartender of the Year, and Harry Rivera from Puerto Rico, who earned the title of Pastry Chef of the Year.

In addition to the overall winners, CHTA provided honours to the competitors in each of the following categories:

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Bahama Breeze

Overall winner: Glendon Carty, Anguilla

Gold category: Glendon Carty, Anguilla, and Sabrina Rosales, Trinidad and Tobago

Silver category: Darren Conner, Anguilla; Keirha Forde, Trinidad and Tobago; Ruben Guzman, Puerto Rico; Justin Hughes, Anguilla; Ravi Anne Koran, Jamaica; Hedwill Martinez, Puerto Rico; Ernie Reyes, Puerto Rico; and Lennox Scott, Trinidad and Tobago

Bronze category : Brian Lumley and Martin Maguinley, both from Jamaica.

Pastry Chef Competition, sponsored by Albert Uster Imports, Inc

Overall winner:Harry Rivera, Puerto Rico

Gold category: Harry Rivera, Puerto Rico

Silver category: Collin Yearwood, Anguilla

Bronze category: Gilbert Mckenzie, Jamaica, and Avanelle James, Trinidad and Tobago.

Bartender of the Year

Overall winner: Paul Peterson, St Maarten/St Martin

Silver category: Paul Peterson, St Maarten/St Martin, and Joshua King, US Virgin Islands

Bronze category: Catherine Niles, Anguilla, and Jacqueline Proverbs, Barbados

Paul Peterson, St Maarten/St Martin, was named Bartender of the Year at Taste of the Caribbean.

Individual Bartender Awards

Gold category: St Maarten/St Martin

Silver category: Barbados, St Maarten/St Martin and US Virgin Islands

Bronze category: Anguilla, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Highest Scoring Team, sponsored by Bahama Breeze

Overall winner: Trinidad and Tobago team comprised of Bernard Long, Sabrina Rosales, Keirha Forde, Lennox Scott, Avanelle James and Ryan Newallo.

Team Competition Medals

Gold category: Anguilla, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Silver category: Antigua, Barbados, Curaçao, Grenada, St Lucia, St Maarten/St Martin, and US Virgin Islands

Bronze category: British Virgin Islands and Suriname.

Team Manager Competition Award

First-place medal: Steven Sowa, Jamaica

Second-place Medal: Graham Licorish, Barbados

Third-place medal: Dean Samuel, Anguilla.

Other Awards

Most creative vodka award: Joshua King, US Virgin Islands

Most creative non-alcoholic drink: Junior Lewis, Jamaica

Most creative rum award: Paul Peterson, St Maarten/St Martin

Most creative overall drinks: Catherine Niles, Anguilla.

Best use of Certified Angus Beef by a team, sponsored by Certified Angus Beef: Trinidad and Tobago for the Roasted Chocolate Peppered Beef.

Best use of cheese by a team, sponsored by US Dairy Export Council: Jamaica for the Orange Scallion Cheesecake.

Best use of Orchid Chocolate by a team, sponsored by Albert Uster Imports, Inc: St Maarten/St Martin for the Chocolate Mousse stuffed with lemongrass, carrots and orange jam.

Hans Schank Commemorative Award for the Most Innovative Menu: US Virgin Islands.

Most innovative dish: Jamaica for Carrot-Pineapple Pudding, Orange-Scallion Cheesecake, Sweet and Sour sauce, Chocolate Scotch Bonnet Mousse on Passion Fruit Crepe with Mango Ice Cream.

The Spirit of the Competition: Curaçao.

Held June 12-14 at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association and Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Taste of the Caribbean was highlighted by two days of workshops, tasting, demonstrations and competition, which culminated with the announcement of the winners at a final dinner celebration.