The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association officially launched the SLHTA National Culinary Team Competition on Wednesday. The winners of competition will participate in the annual Taste of the Caribbean Competition, scheduled for June.

The Taste of the Caribbean is the region’s premiere food and beverage educational exchange and showcase, which creates an avenue for professionals to develop their skills, and establish relationships.

First Vice President of the Board of Directors of the SLHTA, John Mathurin, said the National Culinary Team Competition is crucial to the sustainability of the tourism industry.

“An important part of the Board’s mandate, and the mandate of the Tourism Enhancement Fund is to develop and promote the human resource assets of our divergent membership,” Mr. Mathurin said. “The competition provides an environment for the ongoing development of the culinary and beverage arts. Cuisine and culinary arts sit at the eminence of any vacation experience, so one key component is to stimulate interest in the arts. Such competitions provide an avenue for that growth.”

The competition will be held at the Castries comprehensive School on Feb. 9, and is expected to last three days. Upon completion, the selected chefs will then begin the training process for the Taste of the Caribbean Competition.

Chef Richardson Skinner, Executive Chef of Coco Palm and team manager for the Saint Lucia Culinary Team, said the SLHTA is dedicated to creating a better structure for the team.

“The SLHTA board has selected a team of professionals to form a culinary committee. The committee will be responsible for the implementation and management of new visions for the culinary team of Saint Lucia. Our first step in establishing this new vision is going to be the competition during which we will be looking for the best of the best.”

Invitations were sent to member hotels and restaurants of the SLHTA to identify chefs who have proven to be outstanding in their professions and are able to participate.

The launch took place at the Bay Gardens Hotel on Feb. 6.