Team TCI Wins Big at 2018 Taste of the Caribbean

#Miami, FL, June 29, 2018 – United States – The award-winning Team TCI brought home yet another win for the Turks & Caicos Islands at the 2018 Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition in Miami, Florida this past week.

Three(3) Gold, three (3) Silvers, an honorable mention and a Hall of Fame induction were among some of the coveted prizes showcased by the team at their arrival at the Providenciales International Airport on Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

Lead by two-time TCHTA Chef of the Year, Edwin Gallardo, the team went head-to-head with fourteen renowned teams from across the Caribbean and delivered spectacular dishes and cocktails in 11 categories.

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association members and food enthusiasts gathered at the Hyatt Regency from June 22 to 26 to savor appetizing creations from the TCI and other Caribbean countries while embracing their cultures.

TCHTA Chief Executive Officer Stacy Cox, who accompanied the team, expressed her pride and excitement for their efforts, “I couldn’t be more proud of what we have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in this culinary competition,” said Cox, “The tremendous dedication, the commitment and the drive to win amazes me year after year.”

The locally based team had an impressive finish with Bartender Aristotle Florida taking gold in the Caribbean Bartender Competition. Christin Greene achieved silver in the Caribbean Junior Chef Competition, while Chefs Charles Joseph and Derrick Carter also won silver for the Caribbean Chef Competition and Beef Competition, respectively. Chef Vadivel Raju won gold in the Caribbean Pastry Chef Competition and was inducted in the Hall of Fame for his category.  Former Lit’l Chef participant, Wilkiens Martin, received an honourable mention in the Seafood Competition.

Stacy Cox noted, “We are so thankful to the Association members especially Amanyara, Beaches Resort and Spa, Seven Stars, Grace Bay Club Resort and The Palms for nominating their top chefs to help us showcase TCI’s culinary talent internationally.  The training they have endured leading up to Taste of the Caribbean, including Taste of Tapas, has truly paid off.”

“Also, special thanks go out to the Ministry of Education and the TCI Tourist Board for their continuous support of this event year after year.”

This is the third year that the Turks & Caicos Islands has been represented in this international cooking competition, and the TCHTA is looking to repeat the success and bring home more wins for the ‘Beautiful by Nature’ destination.

Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the annual Taste of the Caribbean is the region’s premier culinary competition, food & beverage educational exchange and Caribbean cultural showcase. It highlights the art of Caribbean cooking as it brings together top chefs and bartenders from the region to compete for honours in a variety of food and beverage categories. Since 1993, CHTA member countries such as The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos have sent their best chefs and mixologists to this event to compete, demonstrate their skills, learn from each other and offer the general public a scintillating exhibition of the most delectable culinary treats of the region.

For more information, interested persons and organizations are encouraged to call the TCHTA office on 339-5787 or visit their social media pages.

Release: TCHTA