The SLHTA has officially launched its sixth annual Chefs in Schools competition.

Twenty students from ten schools will compete for a spot to represent Saint Lucia at the upcoming Caribbean Junior Dueling Competition in Barbados.

The Chefs in Schools program was started in 2006 by the Taste of the Caribbean Saint Lucian Team whose aim was to inspire up-and-coming chefs.

Clovis Samuel, TVET Officer of the Department of Education, said the initiative provides competition conditions for the students, which will aid in their development.

“The Department of Education is excited about the competition. The reason is the stated objective of the competition based on the information we got, includes exposure of the students to the various aspects of the culinary arts. In the school system we do food, nutrition, and health, but they are not necessarily providing skills in terms of the culinary arts.”

The Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School was the emerging winner of the 2018 competition. This year, the participating schools will include Entrepot Secondary, Soufriere Comprehensive, Babonneau Secondary, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary, Choiseul Secondary School and St Joseph’s Convent.

WinFresh is an official sponsor of the Chefs in Schools 2019 competition.

Sylvanus Fontenard of Winfresh said the event will inspire and help nurture the talents of young people in Saint Lucia who are interested in the culinary arts.

“Our sponsorship demonstrates the value that we place on this profession. I spent some time in this industry and I am well aware of the value of culinary arts to this industry and the service sector.”

The competition will be held from June 11 – 12, at the Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School.