On Friday 14th August Ripples Restaurant in Sandy Ground hosted a three-course dinner event to support two gifted young men who will be competing in a regional culinary competition in Barbados this month. The two competitors, Mr. Tajh Carty and Mr. Lashawn Ruan-Hodge prepared the scrumptious meal alongside Chef Glendon – Carty for a full house which included family, friends and well- wishers.
Mr. Tajh Carty and Mr. Lashawn Ruan-Hodge were chosen to represent Anguilla in the upcoming Caribbean Dueling Challenge which runs from the 20th to the 23rd of August. They are been trained and coached for this prestigious event by renowned Anguillian chef Mr. Glendon Carty who won Taste of the Caribbean’s top award, “Chef of the Year”, in 2009. Mrs. Shermin Wrensford-Adams, Head of Home and Food Technology Department at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, serves as the local coordinator charged with overseeing the preparation and funding of the team.
Nineteen-year old Tajh Ndégé Carty recently completed the CAPE Associate Degree Programme in Technical Studies at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla. His main focus was Food and Nutrition. Tajh has been passionate about cooking from the age of nine. With just a year of experience under his belt he started his own recipe book calling it TOR – Tajh’s Original Recipes. The name derived from Tajh’s willingness to experiment and make changes to any interesting recipe he finds. He aspires to one day open his own restaurant so that all may come and enjoy his fare.
Seventeen-year old Lashawn Ruan Hodge of Sandy Hill, Anguilla, has a keen interest in pursuing Culinary Arts. He is currently undergoing studies at the Anguilla Community College to complete an associates degree in Science, Hospitality and Tourism Management. Lashawn has stated that the reason for his path towards Culinary Arts has stemmed from his father, Mr. Shawn Hodge, who has been a chef for twenty years and worked in many restaurants, hotels and villas throughout the island of Anguilla. Lashawn intends to travel to the United Kingdom to further his studies in Culinary Arts.
The evening’s meal, which included spiced sesame crusted snapper, pepper crusted pork served along with other enticing dishes, was well received by those in attendance.
The fundraising event was organised by Mrs. Jacquei Ruan, Manager of Ripples Restaurant.
Other sponsors included: Cuisinart Hotel and Spa, Straw Hat Restaurant, Freedom Water Sport, Sur La Plague, Telecom Mobile Vet, Pool Works Anguilla, The Anguilla Rotary Club, Funtime Charters and Dianne Norris. This is the first time Anguilla will be competing in the Caribbean Dueling Challenge.
– Contribued
