The Barbados culinary team has taken home the crown as the winner of the Taste of the Caribbean competition in Miami this week.

The CHTA event was held this week at the Hyatt Regency Miami.

Barbados also took home individual honors for Ryan Adamson, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, and Damian Leach for Seafood.

Kenneth Molyneaux from the British Virgin Islands won Caribbean Chef of the Year and also took home the top prize in the Beef Competition. The Cayman Islands’ Melissa Logan was Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, while Kenria Taylor from The Bahamas was Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year. The Chocolate winner was Bonaire’s Sherundly Bernabela.

“We really applaud all these Taste of the Caribbean participants, their national hotel and tourism associations, team managers and sponsors for developing 14 astounding Caribbean national teams to compete at this event,” said Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). “The teams’ commitment to the region showed in the heart and soul that each of the participants invested in their presentations.”

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor