Willemstad – On Friday, October 12th, CHATA announced the new members of the Curaçao Culinary Team 2019. The winners will represent Curaçao internationally at the Taste of the Caribbean competitions in Miami next year.
Every year, CHATA holds a Culinary Competition for local chefs and bartenders in order to select the new members of the Curaçao Culinary Team. The Curaçao Culinary Team consists of 4 chefs, 1 pastry chef and 2 bartenders. During the course of the year all members of the team will receive intensive trainings and coaching sessions by local and international culinary professionals in order to prepare them for the Culinary Competition ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ in Miami.
On Saturday, October 6th and Friday, October 12th, 26 Chefs competed for the honors of becoming a part of the new Curaçao Culinary Team. After a tough and intense competition the winners were selected by a group of elite judges consisting of the world renowned celebrity chef Hans van Triest (winner of Caribbean Chef of the year 2006), Frans Smits (Capriles Kliniek), Jeroen van der Velden (Chef at Gouverneur Restaurant), Carlos Anthonij (Amazia Restaurant & Culinary Team Manager), Helmie Smeulders (Spice Girl), Mike Pastoor (chef at Avila Beach Hotel) , Dan e Ribeiro (CEO of Fuik Microgreens),Devin Looijschelder (assistant to Hans van Triest ), Luigi Chavarria (CEO of La Vie en Rose), Angelique Schoop (Pâtisserie Professional).
The new chefs of the Curaçao Culinary Team 2019 consist of the following participants:
| Name | Type of Chef | Property |
| Mygor Jacobs | Junior Chef | Karakter |
| Henry Suli | Senior Chef | Mood Beach |
| Ayron Pieters | Senior Chef | Mood Beach |
| Aysheron Philips | Senior Chef | Blue Bay Golf & Beach Resort |
| Melissa Poen | Pastry Chef | Thelma & Louise |
| Franklin Martha | Pastry Chef Runner up | La Vie en Rose |
During the week of September 24th – 29th CHATA held various bartender competitions which evidently lead to the announcement of the new talented bartenders that will also form part of the Curaçao Culinary Team 2019.
| Name | Property | |
| Jurnick Merced | Bartender | Sauc’e |
| Brenton Balentien | Bartender runner up | Sauc’e |
The proud sponsors of the Curaçao Culinary Team competitions are: Delinova, Salas Sport shop, Firgos, Marnix College Cas Cora, Chogogo Time to Smile, TUI , Amazia, Centrum Supermarkt Mahaai, Beuk Horeca /Caribbean Bakery , Licores Maduro and Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino.
For more information and updates about the culinary team and its journey to the Taste of the Caribbean competitions please visit www.facebook.com/CHATACuracao
