Dana Pucci informs us that Trinidad and Tobago’s culinary team once again (for the seventh year in a row) was a gold-winning champion at the recently concluded Taste of the Caribbean, held in Miami, Florida, June 26-30. See press release below:

Trinidad and Tobago’s team of culinary superstars defended the country’s winning streak by grabbing its seventh straight team gold medal and solidifying its spot on the epicurean traveler’s map during Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual Taste of The Caribbean Competition, held at the Hyatt Regency Miami, June 26-30, 2013. Representing the dual-island nation was Raymond Joseph, team captain, Courtyard by Marriott; Sabrina Rosales, vice-captain, Sabrina’s Exotic Chutneys; Adrian Cumberbatch, chef, Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Jeremy Lovell, chef, Courtyard by Marriott; Cheryl Ann Shortt-Charles, pastry chef, TTHTI; Naomi Lovell, junior chef; Janelle Olliverre, alternative chef, Hilton Trinidad; Clinton Ramdhan, bartender, Martini Makers; and Karlina Permell, alternate bartender, Hilton Trinidad. This was Team Captain Raymond Joseph’s third and final year of Captaincy after leading the team to gold medals for three consecutive years as well as the Team of the Year title in 2011.

This year’s gold medal honors included the coveted Team Competition; Clinton Ramdhan, Bartender of the Year Competition and Bartender Competition: Best Vodka Drink; Naomi Lovell, Junior Chef of the Year; Janelle Ollivere, Cheesecake Competition and Taste of the Islands Best Team–showcasing the best street food and drink presentation. Other medals include Chef of the Year Competition, bronze, Jeremy Lovell; Pastry Chef Competition, silver, Cheryl Shortt-Charles; Mystery Rum, silver, Karlina Purmell; Beef Competition, silver, Adrian Cumberbatch; and Seafood Competition, silver, Jeremy Lovell.

Organized by the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) as a member of the CHTA, the five-day competition featured ten teams from the Caribbean that competed in both team and individual competitions in various categories including, Taste of the Islands, Chef of the Year, Junior Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year and cheesecake competitions. Each culinary team prepared and presented food and beverages that was judged on taste, execution of skills and presentation. Trinidad and Tobago’s award-winning team was yet again guided by Louanna Chai-Alves, executive director, THRTA and Michelle Young, team manager.