On Saturday, February 10th, 2007, 42 cuisine chefs, 12 pastry chefs and 11 bartenders will compete against each other for coveted placement on the Award winning Barbados Culinary Team. 

The event, "The Annual Barbados Culinary and Bartender Competition", will take place at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church. Each chef will create a signature dish and the bartenders will each create a signature drink. A close circuit television will be set up for viewing of the chefs while cooking, and all are invited free of charge.

Michelle Smith-Mayers, Assistant Executive Vice-President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), announced that the number of chefs has doubled this year over last year. The BHTA is pleased with the tremendous response and the increased eagerness of chefs and bartenders who registered for this year's competition.  

"The competition provides a stringent training ground for professionals because of the high level of theoretical judging criteria which is utilized. In addition, it provides the chefs and bartenders with deserved recognition, the chance to display and enhance their skills, as well as the opportunity to be trained by some of the most celebrated regional and international chefs. 

"The winners of the two categories, Culinary and Bartender, will be trained to represent Barbados at local and international culinary and bartending competitions, exhibitions and other food and beverage activities. These include the upcoming 2007 Taste of the Caribbean being held in Miami in June. 

Barbados won gold in Puerto Rico in 2004 and silver in 2005 and 2006.  Last year the team won Spirit of the Competition and this year, we're going for gold," said Smith"- Mayers.

She further informed that, "We have plans to enter the Americas Chef Exhibition which will be held in Miami in November. This event is usually attended by over 300 exhibitors from 27 countries in the Americas. 

To date, Barbados is the only Caribbean island that has ever entered a team for that competition. In addition, we are exploring the possibility of entering the Hotel Olympia Exhibition in London as well as a number of other international exhibitions and competitions".

Additional Information:
February 10th, 2007

http://www.bhta.org