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Interview with Chef J . W . Anthony Mair
by Saada Branker
Q . What ’ s the significance of the WFTA award ?
Mair : This award was given by an international body therefore allowing the world to focus in on Grenada and its offerings regarding culinary tourism .
I believe that it has to be taken very seriously by the entire island . So not just hotels , but
culinary schools and fishers and farmers and tour operators . Anybody that has anything to do with tourism on the island will and should
benefit from winning this award and not just for today and tomorrow . If orchestrated in the right way , this can be a significant movement .
Q . You have said that the cookbook is just the beginning of the five-year plan that shines a spotlight on Grenada . What do you mean ?
Mair : Recognizing that we ’ re just coming through a world pandemic , we are at , what I consider , a restart for tourism . The scaling of this opportunity – for it to manifest to its fullest – I believe will take a strategic , focused five-year initiative .
Q . What is the connection between the cookbook and the GCN culinary exchange program ?
Mair : Through our partnerships we see there are budding culinary students on the island of Grenada that we feel would aid in the development of new initiatives here in Ontario , Muskoka .
We ’ re now in the process of engaging these culinary students to participate in a 12 to 24-month stage at our properties in Muskoka . Profit from the sale of the cookbook will aid in supporting their experiences . This is again in the five-year plan .
We see that by engaging these culinary and hospitality students at this stage we have an opportunity to build a program where have a hand in training them . And once they are back on the island and running their own businesses and contributing to society in healthful , meaningful ways , they will be Grenada ’ s ambassadors .
Q . Your recipe to show your love for Grenada is a Green Banana Plantain Sweet Potato Bread . Why ?
Mair : My Mama introduced me to provisions saying they ’ re jewels and gifts from our Creator , and they ’ re here be used .
I found a way of introducing them because we always have the leftover piece of plantain , and we always had leftover green banana . So one day I smashed all three of them together and turned it into bread and it was delicious . So here we are celebrating Grenada from our provisions and turning it into something wholesome , nutritional , and beneficial .
Q . What ’ s the best way to enjoy this recipe ?
Mair : Offer it with love to people that you care about and want to share with . This is a unique recipe with many flavour offerings . Enjoy it by itself , with jam , with butter , or honey .