Team Jamaica participated at the 20th Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition, organized by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Miami, June 26 – 30, 2013. Guided by the quote, “teamwork makes the dream work” and this was manifested. The 14 member delegation represented Jamaica with distinction. The team garnered 13 medals, compared to 9 that were earned the previous year. The quality of the medals also improved – 2 golds, 7 silvers and 4 bronzes. The team was organized by the Culinary Federation of Jamaica (CFJ).
The Team consisted of:
•Dennis McIntosh, Chairman, CFJ
•Kenrick A. Stewart, Team Manager/President, CFJ
•Natalie Chen, CFJ Board Member - Logistics Coordinator
•Marsha Grant, CFJ Board Member – Social Media/Photographer
•Rochelle Grindley, Usain Bolt Track & Records - Cheesecake Competition
•Damion Myers, Grand Palladium Resorts – Team Competition
•Jai Samuda-Thomas, Student, University of Technology, Jamaica – Team Competitor & Junior Chef of the Year Competition
•Brian Lumley, Team Captain - Chef of the Year & Team Competition
•Gian Stewart, Sandals Royal Plantation, Ocho Rios - Seafood Competiton
•Melissa Fletcher, Hilton Rosehall Hotel - Bartender of the Year Competition
•Teresa Clarke, Couples Sans Souci Hotel – Cheese Cake Competition
•Lincoln Peterkin - Pastry Chef of the Year, Ice Carving and Team Competitions
•Dwight Cross, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel – Beef Competition
•Aaron Thwaites, Team Competition.
Late night meetings, early competitions, delays and duty sharing all paid off when our first medal was announced. The jubilation continued until the tense announcement of Chef of the Year. The announcer called our two bronze medalists, and seven silver medalists. At this point the team was on its feet jumping as the only medal left was gold and only one name remained. And so it was. Of significant note, the last time Jamaica won Chef of the Year was 1999.
The Team won the following medals:
The highest individual honours were bestowed upon Brian Lumley, Jamaica, Caribbean Chef of the Year
•Gold Medal - Teresa Clarke, Cheesecake Competition
•Silver Medal– Rochelle Grindley, Cheesecake Competition
•Silver Medal - Caribbean National Team
•Silver Medal - Gian Stewart, Seafood Competition
•Silver Medal – Rochelle Grindley, Seafood Competition
•Silver Medal & Ice Carving Champion – Lincoln Peterkin
•Silver Medal - Caribbean Junior Chef Medal, Jai Samuda-Thomas
•Bronze Medal – Lincoln Peterkin, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year
•Bronze Medal - Ice Carver of the Year, Dwight Cross
•Bronze Medal - Melissa Fletcher, Rums of Puerto Rico Mystery Basket Competition
•Bronze Medal – Melissa Fletcher, Caribbean Bartender of the Year