Anguilla is sending its taste to Nevis. This weekend, a hand-picked team of Anguillian chefs, assembled under Dr. Carissa Webster-Lake’s Hook & Harvest movement, will represent the island at the 2026 Nevis Mango Festival — and they will do so with the backing of Republic Bank (EC) Limited’s Anguilla branch, which has stepped forward with a sponsorship contribution of US$500 to help carry Team Anguilla to the competition stage.
The Nevis Mango Festival, now in its 12th year, runs [from] July 2–5, 2026, and has grown into one of the Caribbean’s signature culinary celebrations. Hosted by the Nevis Tourism Authority and headlined this year by Food Network star and Top Chef finalist Chef Eric Adjepong, the four-day festival draws chefs, food lovers, and travellers from across the region and beyond. Team Anguilla will compete among a deep field of regional talent in the festival’s celebrated cooking competition, part of the marquee “For the Love of Mangoes” finale.
Representing Anguilla are three chefs whose work already speaks for the island:
• Chef Rakev Webster, founder and owner of Rtaste Catering, whose time in the United Kingdom sharpened a versatility that lets him move with ease across cuisines and dietary needs.
• Chef Karimah Carty, a seasoned hospitality professional, longtime culinary trainer at the Anguilla Community College, and the entrepreneur behind Remah’s Delights, with more than two decades in the business.
• Chef Makeame Mussington, a rising hot-line talent at Sharky’s Restaurant who treats every plate as a piece of art — visually striking and built to taste.
The team is an outgrowth of Hook & Harvest, the farm-to-plate movement Dr. Webster-Lake launched in 2025 to celebrate Anguilla’s young chefs, farmers, and fisherfolk and to champion fresh, locally sourced food as the foundation of healthier island living. Carrying that spirit to Nevis, Team Anguilla aims to do more than compete; it intends to tell an “island-to-island” story that strengthens cultural and culinary ties across the Leewards while showcasing Anguilla’s growing reputation as a culinary destination.
Dr. Webster-Lake shared, “This is about putting Anguilla’s talent on a regional stage. Our chefs are ready, and with partners like Republic Bank standing behind them, I know we will represent with pride and the art of flavor.
Republic Bank’s support lands squarely within the ethos of its flagship community programme, Power to Make A Difference, through which the bank has invested in causes and people across the Eastern Caribbean. Backing Team Anguilla extends that commitment to the island’s emerging culinary talent and to the young entrepreneurs building Anguilla’s hospitality future.
“At Republic Bank, we believe in the power to make a difference in the communities we serve. Supporting these talented Anguillian chefs as they represent our island regionally is exactly the kind of investment in local excellence we are proud to make,” said Ralph Henry, Country Manager, Republic Bank (Anguilla) Limited.
The Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association serves as the foundation partner for Team Anguilla, and extends their sincere thanks to Republic Bank and to all partners helping to make Anguilla’s presence at the 2026 Nevis Mango Festival possible.
When the chefs step up to the competition table this weekend, they will be cooking for more than a title. They will be cooking for Anguilla.
