Recently back from the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition in Miami, the Anguilla Culinary Team was entertained and thanked on Sunday evening, July 12, at a specially-organised cocktail reception at Viceroy Anguilla.
Mrs. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA), was particularly thankful to Viceroy for hosting the event, and to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Bogar of Veya Restaurant for their continuing support. She was also grateful to other persons in the hospitality industry for supporting the team.
She commended and thanked the members of the culinary team for their hard work and achievements at the competition, and said it was a pleasure for her to be involved in their management.
Mrs. Gumbs-Samuel was pleased to report that plans were already in hand for the team to represent Anguilla at next year’s culinary competition, and that the first fundraising event towards that end was planned for August Thursday’s boat race at Meads Bay. Plans are also being made for another fundraiser in November, details of which will be announced later.
Gilda took the opportunity to inform the gathering that the AHTA was appreciative of a suggestion by Veya Restaurant owners, Mr. and Mrs. Bogar, to hold a culinary festival in Anguilla next year. This, according to Mrs. Bogar, would enable members of the community to meet the chefs and provide an additional fundraising event similar to the fundraiser at Viceroy.
Mr. Delroy Lake, President of the AHTA, joined the Executive Director in thanking members of the culinary team for their hard work and everybody for supporting them.
Another expression of thanks came from Viceroy’s Food and Beverage Administration Assistant, Ms. Marynka Ruan. She stated that the resort was extremely pleased that one of its colleagues, Jamie Matthews, had won a gold award for Pastry Chef of the Year at the competition. She added that Viceroy was always willing to assist Anguillians and noted that, over the years, the resort had accommodated the culinary team in preparing for the competition.
In addition to Mr. Jamie Matthews, other notable performers in the 2015 competition were: Mr. Jonathan Hughes of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa, winner of a bronze award for Chef of the Year; Mr. Jamal Hodge, also of CuisinArt, who won a silver award for Bartender of the Year – and who was also named Most Creative Bartender; Mr. Teron Thompson of Straw Hat, winner of a bronze award for Junior Chef of the Year; and Mr. Lester Gumbs of CuisinArt, who won a silver award in the Beef and Seafood competition.
