While experience won out over youth, with the region’s top teams fielded by highly seasoned chefs, the Bahamas team came away from last month’s regional meet with a number of medals and according to team members – “much wiser and humbled.”
The team practiced for several months, culminating in a demonstration dinner at Fathoms at Atlantis the week before the regional competition which was well received by the 100 supporters in attendance. Results of the competition in Miami are as follows:
Taste of the Caribbean Bahamas Top Honors
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Silver Medal – Jamal Small
PASTRY CHEF COMPETITION:
Silver Medal – Wenzel Brown, Lyford Cay Club
JUNIOR CHEF OF THE YEAR:
Silver Medal – Dwayne Sinclair, Student
BARTENDER COMPETITION:
Bronze Medal – Gerald Knowles, British Colonial Hilton
ICE CARVING COMPETITION:
Bronze Medal – Ancillemo Solomon, Luciano’s of Chicago
SEAFOOD COMPETITION:
Silver Medal – Shanique Bodie, Old Fort Bay Club
BEEF COMPETITION:
Silver Medal – Charron McKenzie, Lyford Cay Club
CHEESE COMPETITION:
Bronze Medal – Kevin Pratt, One & Only Ocean Club
TEAM MEDAL
Bronze – Team Members:
Devin Johnson, Team Manager, Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort
Jamal Small, Team Captain
Mychal Harris, Atlantis
Kevyn Pratt, One and Only Ocean Club
Charron McKenzie, Lyford Cay Club
Shanique Bodie, Old Fort Bay Club
Wenzel Brown, Lyford Cay Club
Gerhard Knowles, British Colonial Hilton
Ancelillemo Solomon, Luciano’s of Chicago
Dwayne Sinclair, Student, Temple Christian Academy
Team organizers, including representatives from BHA, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Bahamas Culinary Association, are already assessing the strengths and lesson’s learned from this year’s competition with the initial commitment to start training earlier and create a mix of experienced and young chefs on the team. The team and sponsors will be recognized at BHA’s August 2nd meeting at Luciano’s.
Special appreciation to sponsors: Bahamas Food Services, Bristol Wines and Spirits, DMC Bahamas Limited, American Hotel Register, and supporting hotels and restaurants – Atlantis, British Colonial Hilton, Luciano’s of Chicago, Lyford Cay Club, Old Fort Bay Club, One and Only Ocean Club, and Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.
Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA)
