Triumphant Saint Lucia National Culinary Team returns home!

Triumphant Saint Lucia National Culinary Team returns home!
(Castries, Saint Lucia – November 25th 2024)- The Saint Lucia National Culinary Team delivered an impressive performance at the return of Taste of the Caribbean (TASTE), capturing multiple medals and accolades.
Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), TASTE is the region’s premier culinary competition, food & beverage educational exchange and Caribbean cultural showcase. This year’s competition took place in North Miami from November 18-20th, marking the first since 2019.
Team Saint Lucia achieved the following awards:
-Silver Medal in the Caribbean National Team category
-Gold Medal and Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year – Emmany Hippolyte (Jade Mountain)
-Silver Medal in the Senior Chef category – Neville Joseph (Anse Chastanet). Joseph also received a Damascus Cleaver from Certified Angus Beef and was accepted into the Culinary Center at Certified Angus Beef Headquarters in Ohio, United States.
-Silver Medal in the Junior Chef category – Kayla Joseph (Sir Arthur Lewis Community College)
-Bronze Medal in the Bartending category – Ninus Charlouis (Ladera Resort)
-Tony Mark Spirit of the Competition award – Team Manager Chef Fabian Vigee (The BodyHoliday)
The National Culinary Team returned home on Friday, November 22nd to a warm welcome by government officials and sponsors at Hewanorra International Airport.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Culture and Information, Hon. Guibion Ferdinand, remarked: “The last time I was speaking about Saint Lucia on the international scene, the newest accomplishment was the achievement by our Olympic Champion Julien Alfred. So next time when I speak about my country, I can add something to the list of accolades! Team Saint Lucia, congratulations for making our country proud! I want to extend the best wishes on behalf of the government, people of Saint Lucia and the Ministry of Tourism to all of you. You as persons who are in the culinary field have really added some flavor to the Saint Lucia product. Our country is a unique destination with a number of very special assets. And when we can use the human asset, those of you with those skills, to be able to show and have people taste a bit of Saint Lucia, I think it really speaks volumes of what we can do.”
Republic Bank Assistant Manager, Kareem Verneuil, said: “Today we gather, not just to celebrate participation, but the outstanding success and pride our team has brought to Saint Lucia yet again. On behalf of Republic Bank, I want to extend my warmest congratulations to each and every one of you for your remarkable achievements. Your success is the direct result of dedication, passion and love for showcasing the best Saint Lucian cuisine. At Republic Bank, we are thrilled to see the impact of our Power to Make A Difference programme. Our investment in initiatives like Taste of the Caribbean is about empowering our communities and nurturing talent. Your success shows that when we support our people, they can soar to incredible heights.”
SLHTA Acting President Erwin Louisy has lauded the team, stating, “Congratulations on an incredible job at TASTE. You have showcased Saint Lucia’s rich culinary flavors, advanced your professional skills and inspired many. We commend you for your dedication and the immense sacrifices made in preparation for the competition. Thank you for representing our beautiful island at the highest level, and we look forward to many more exciting things from each of you.”
The SLHTA extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Management Team comprising Team Manager Chef Fabian Vigee, SLHTA Director Wadi Zakhour, Consultant Chef Eike Lauff and Mixologist Alva Preville, for their outstanding leadership. Special thanks also go out to Chef Elijah Jules for his valuable insights and assistance.
The Association also expresses its deep appreciation to the sponsors—the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Republic Bank, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Nick Troubetzkoy’s Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, Ladera Resort, The BodyHoliday and Uniforms & Accessories—whose generosity made Saint Lucia’s participation in Taste of the Caribbean possible.
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