Culinary Instructor Chef Renata de Weever and Junior Chef Jaenanena Joseph
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten secured third place in the Nevis Mango Festival Chef Competition, with National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) Culinary Instructor Chef Renata de Weever and Junior Chef Jaenanena Joseph earning the regional honour during the festival on Sunday, July 5.
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs announced the achievement after travelling to Nevis at the invitation of the Nevis Tourism Authority to participate in one of the island's premier cultural events.
The Nevis Mango Festival features several culinary experiences centred on the more than 40 varieties of mango grown on the island. Throughout the five-day festival, every dish and drink incorporates mango in some way, including the annual chef competition.
During the competition, participants were presented with two mystery baskets. According to Gumbs, the first challenge required chefs to prepare a plant-based dish using green banana, green soursop and mango as the primary ingredients.
"Chefs de Weever and Joseph were given two mystery baskets, as were all other chefs," Gumbs said. "The first mystery basket was based around a plant-based dish, with green banana and green soursop as the primary ingredients, and of course, mango."
She praised Junior Chef Joseph for taking the lead in developing the dish, describing it as "an amazing display of her talent and self-awareness as a young chef."
The second challenge required competitors to prepare a mango-infused conch dish within 30 minutes. With 20 minutes remaining, organisers introduced an additional mystery ingredient – ground coffee – and extended the time by 15 minutes.
Gumbs admitted she questioned how the unusual combination of ingredients could work, but said she gained confidence after watching the two chefs quickly agree on their approach.
This year's competition was judged by celebrity chef Eric Adjepong, a finalist on Top Chef Season 16, along with three other judges.
Following two rounds of competition, Nevis captured first place, Anguilla finished second and St. Maarten placed third.
Gumbs commended both chefs for their adaptability, creativity and professionalism throughout the competition and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to travel with them to the festival. "Growth is about going up against others with more experience, more time in the game," she said.
She added that regional collaboration has always been important to her because she believes the Caribbean is home to "some of the greatest creative culinary minds in the world."
Gumbs said she is proud of St. Maarten's first appearance at the Nevis Mango Festival and looks forward to future participation by the island's culinary professionals, as well as those from neighbouring islands.
