‘TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN’ SHOWCASES
FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY’S MASTERS OF THE REGION
Premier Caribbean Culinary Event Returns To Miami, June 12-14, 2015
THE CARIBBEAN (April 30, 2015) – Taste of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) premier culinary competition and cultural showcase, brings food and beverage specialists together to witness the latest techniques utilized during the competition. Chefs and bartenders can meet face-to-face with their peers from around the industry to discuss industry trends that will help them in their respective fields. Taste of the Caribbean returns to Miami for its fourth consecutive year and will take place at the Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 12 – 14, 2015.
Each year the Caribbean’s top chefs and culinary teams unite to learn and compete, providing a dazzling exhibition of eclectic dishes and drinks from the islands and participants enjoy some of the best Caribbean cuisine and libations the region has to offer. Participating teams, event sponsors and all attendees benefit from exploring industry trends and exchanging ideas, skills and techniques.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to showcase the depth and variety of the Caribbean’s incredible culinary offerings,” said Frank Comito, chief executive officer of CHTA. “The three-day event is designed to appeal to the tastes of consumers, professionals and Caribbean enthusiasts who want to learn, connect, and enjoy the delights of our unique region,” he added.
A highlight of the event is the head-to-head competitions between Caribbean culinary teams vying for top honors in Caribbean cuisine and beverages. There are currently 10 culinary teams registered for the event from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Suriname and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each national team is comprised of two senior chefs, one junior chef, one bartender, one pastry chef and one manager. The participating team members represent hotels, restaurants or educational institutions in the Caribbean which are members of CHTA.
During a series of competitions, chefs and bartenders from each country will present a variety of Caribbean entrees and cocktails as they battle for top honors including: Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year.
“The Caribbean has a unique food culture that enhances guests’ vacation experience,” said Emil Lee, president of CHTA. “Taste of the Caribbean provides a platform for showcasing the best of our region’s cuisine and unique drink offerings to professionals and consumers attending the event, driving awareness of the Caribbean brand throughout the south Florida area, one of our priority markets,” Lee noted.
For more gastronomic delight, Caribbean cuisine and culture will be on-display for the public to experience at the Taste of the Islands festival taking place Saturday, June 13 from 6:30 – 9 pm at the Hyatt Regency, Miami. Consumers can gather information about their favorite Caribbean destinations, sample gourmet appetizers, and signature cocktails, and listen to authentic Caribbean music. For tickets and display information, contact CHTA at events@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members. CHTA, including the events staged by the association, is supported by Strategic Partners MasterCard, Interval International, OBM International, HVS, Tambourine, TravelZoo and Cable & Wireless. For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Follow CHTA on Facebook Facebook.com/CaribbeanHotelandTourismAssociation and Twitter Twitter.com/CHTAFeeds.
