BVI National Culinary Team Wins Five Gold Medals at Caribbean Culinary Competition

NEW YORK, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Virgin Islands National Culinary Team has won Gold at this year's annual Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition and four other individual Gold Medals awards.

• A Chef of the Year Award:  Kenneth Molyneaux, Treasure Isle Hotel,
• Best Use of Certified Angus Beef:  Kenneth Molyneaux, Treasure Isle Hotel,
• Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year:  Mikhala Bagot, and Junior Chef Gold Award:  Mikhala Bagot.  Mikhala Bagot was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• Other Individual Awards won were one Silver and Three Bronze.

Featuring culinary teams from 10 Caribbean countries and territories, Taste of the Caribbean 2011 was held at the Hyatt Regency in Miami from June 22-26, 2011. The teams participated in qualifying rounds of "live kitchen" competitions and prepared a three-course meal in less than four hours using a mystery basket of ingredients that is kept secret until the competition begins. During the 2010 competition, the BVI team earned a Silver medal.

The team of chefs from the British Virgin Islands was comprised of a wealth of talent, including Head Coaches Chef Henry Prince, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and Caswall Ponte, Rosewood Little Dix Bay; Team Captain Chef Kenneth Molyneaux, Treasure Isle Hotel; Chefs Imran Ashton, Moorings Restaurant, and Jason Dalmida Jr., Bitter End Yacht Club; Junior Chef Mikhala Bagot; Pastry Chefs Ansony Salmon, Peter Island Resort & Spa, and Macgarvey Thompson and Brentfield Lettsome, both of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College; and Bartender Elton Sprauve, Mine Shaft Cafe.

"The BVI National Culinary Team has once again done an excellent job of showcasing one of the many outstanding characteristics of our destination," said Ms. Hadassah Ward, Director of the BVI Tourist Board. "This is a triumph for the team and for the BVI, and we look forward to sharing these winning dishes with residents and visitors alike."

"We know it's no secret that our chefs are blessed with talent and creativity. This victory sends a message to visitors from around the region and the world -- the BVI is a culinary destination," said Dr. Birney Harrigan, Chairman of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.

The team honed its skills over the past year with practice sessions and pre-competition dinners at hotels and restaurants throughout the BVI's 60 islands. This hard work, coupled with the chefs' talent and a wealth of creativity, came together to help the team earn the gold medal honor in the team category. This high level of cuisine can be experienced every day at the many fine dining options across the British Virgin Islands, where restaurants and hotels are known for their delicious culinary offerings, tantalizing island drinks, and spectacular natural atmosphere.

The chefs from the BVI National Culinary Team look forward to holding on to the gold in the 2012 competition, and in the meantime will continue to provide the Caribbean's very best cuisine.

About The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board is a statutory organization of the Government of the Virgin Islands (UK) responsible for promoting the British Virgin Islands as a destination.  The BVI Tourist Board invites everyone to experience the seduction of our pristine and exquisite home. For more information on all that BVI has to offer, visit www.bvitourism.com.

SOURCE British Virgin Islands Tourist Board