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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
The Bahamas National Culinary Team was given gold honors at the 2016 Taste of the Caribbean held in Miami, FL.
Front Row: Team Captain Ron Johnson, Team Mixologist and Co-Captain Marv Cunningham won Bartender of the Year, Co-Captain Sheldon Tracey Sweeting received gold in Chef of the Year; Richmond Fowler II won Seafood chef of the year; Back row: Carlton Francis; Vice President at BHTA Suzanne Pattusch; Apprentice Marvon Thurston; Shelby Coleby won bronze in Pastry Chef of the Year; Apprentice Savannah Adderley; BHTA President Stuart Bowe; Chef Charon McKenzie won silver in beef; Chef Jamal Small won bronze in cheesecake; Marketing Manager of Cable Bahamas Melissa Baker and Leonardis Moss won silver in Jr. Chef of the Year. (Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)
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The Bahamas is looking to capitalize on more exciting culinary events to boost tourism numbers, according to Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu.
Her comments came recently as she attended the Taste of the Caribbean – a culinary art showdown among the best chefs in the region.
The event, which was held from June 6-10 in Miami, Florida, saw a strong representation from the Bahamas National Culinary Team, who left the competition with a gold medal finish.
After tasting mouth-watering delights at the Taste of the Islands event, Ms. Jibrilu said she hopes to mimic this kind of competition in The Bahamas.
“It would be an amazing opportunity,” she said.
“We know that in tourism people are looking for so much more now. Culinary tourism is a major component for that. More than 700 people have paid to come to this event and The Bahamas is very, very popular. So that lets us know that we have something unique. It just makes sense to bring this kind of competition on our soil.”
The Bahamas has also hosted Taste of The Bahamas, which is a culinary festival with dishes from various islands in The Bahamas.
Ms. Jibrilu said this is an example of how The Bahamas can develop culinary tourism.
“I think competition at home is healthy and it inspires creativity. If you’ve got a chef from Grand Bahama, then those out San Salvador, Eleuthera and Long Island will want to create incredible dishes,” she said.
Just recently, the Caribbean Tourism Organization reported that The Bahamas ranks number one in food and beverage experiences such as tours.
In terms of overall culinary, The Bahamas is fourth in the Caribbean.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas National Culinary Team returned
home from Miami on Sunday after competing in Taste of the Caribbean
culinary contest and garnering a number of medals. While Trinidad and
Tobago was victorious, medal winners from The Bahamas were: Bartender
of the Year Marv Cunningham; Chef of the Year Sheldon Tracy Sweeting;
Seafood Chef of the Year Richmond Fowler; silver medals to Charon
McKenzie and Leonardis Moss; bronzes to Shelby Coleby and Jamal Small.
Pictured with the culinary artists are Minister of Labour and National
Insurance, with responsibility for the Public Service, the Hon. Shane Gibson
(centre right) and Executive Vice-President of Bahamas Hotel & Tourism
Association (BHTA) Suzanne Pattusch (second left). (BIS Photo/Kemuel
Stubbs)
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