The Anguilla National Culinary Team began competing in the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition in Miami, on Wednesday this week, alongside many other chefs from the region.
The Anguilla chefs left the island on Monday, all still in agony over the untimely death of their colleague, Jordel Gumbs, who was gunned down last week in West End.
He has been replaced on the team by Darren Connor, a chef at Viceroy, where Jordel worked.
A large number of colleagues in the middle and top management levels of the Viceroy Hotel, and the other hotels and restaurants, were on hand at Blowing Point to support the chefs as they prepared to leave the island.
Many of the supporters joined the chefs in wearing commemorative buttons in honour of the fallen Jordel Gumbs. The chefs also wore t-shirts bearing the slogan: “Jordel we are cooking for you.”
The National Culinary Team comprises: Dean Samuels (Manager), Cap Juluca; Justin Hughes, Shermel Gumbs and Joseph Hodge, Cap Juluca; Glendon Carty, Ripples and Cap Juluca; Claudio Gumbs, Cap Juluca and Mango’s; Casey Reid of CuisinArt; and Darren Connor, Taffi Hodge and Jonathan Hughes of Viceroy. The team is accompanied by the Executive Sous Chef, Charles Voudouris, of Cap Juluca.