Culinary Contest... BVI Style

Ok... this post doesn't have a lot to do with me or my recipes, but I guess it can't be about me all of the time!  Even though it's not about me, I am really excited to share photos from the Culinary Contest from the recent BVI Charter Yacht Show we were in.  Unfortunately, I didn't enter the Culinary Contest this year, but I really wanted to show off what some of the charter yacht chefs are doing.  If I do say so myself, I think the food we put out in our small galleys is quite impressive.

Captain Jan Robinson, who is such a fun lady by the way, is the coordinator of the 9th Culinary and Contest and is also the owner/author of Ship to Shore, Inc.  The panel of judges included, Davide Pugliese, Executive Chef, Scrub Island, Kenneth Molyneaux, Executive Chef Penn Hotels, John Albright, Executive Chef, Senior Lecturer H.Lavity Stoutt Community College, Tara Bouis, formerly of Yacht Soterion and two-time contest winner.  The contest was sponsored by Mount Gay Rum.

The judges work as a team and use the following criteria:  Presentation, Taste, Creativity/Originality, Overall Impression and use of fresh local Caribbean ingredients.

About 15 yacht chefs, on various sized boats ranging from 45 feet to 105 feet, entered the contest. The categories were Appetizers/Salads, Entrees, Deserts, Best Use of Mount Gay Rum and Best Overall Dish Using Caribbean Ingredients.  And... the winners are...

1st Place Entree - Chef Christine Hedeline, Yacht Maitai - Red Snapper "locks like" accompanied with Stuffed Caribbean Vegetables

2nd Place Entree - Claire Tucker, Yacht Katlo

3rd Place Entree - Nadin Grabow, Yacht Nana -Stuffed Chicken Rolls, Mt. Gay Rum Flamed Chicken, Wrapped in Bacon and Stuffed with Spinach, Parmesan Baked Zucchini and Goat Cheese Salad with Cranberries and Potato Flakes

1st Place Appetizer - Chef Nadin Grabow, Yacht Nana - Local Mahi-Mahi Usuzukuri with Wrinkled Potatoes and Soursop-Orange, Lime Sauce, Swordfish and Mahi Mahi Ceviche, along with Coconut Shrimp and Mango Mint Salad

2nd Place Appetizer - Chef Jennifer Pelan, Yacht Crazy Horse

3rd Place Appetizer - Chef Armando Rafael Valdés, Yacht Watershed II

1st Place Tie in Deserts and Best Overall Dish Using Caribbean Ingredients - Chef Angie Laurie, Yacht Secret Oasis 

1st Place Desert Tied and Best Use of Rum Recipe - Chef David Richmond, Yacht Lady Katlo

2nd Place Dessert - Chef Angela Smith, Yacht Caribbean Dream - Sweet Curry Coconut Cremeux with Mango Rum Gelee

2nd Place Desserts - Chef Angela Smith, Yacht Caribbean Dream

3rd Place in Desserts - Chef Christine Hedeline, Yacht Maitai

I don't have descriptions for all of the winning entries but a picture tells a thousand words, right?

Thanks to Jan Robinson and Dick Schoonover for the photos

I have to admit, my favorite part of the Boat Show is the last night where the Culinary Contest winners are announced.  It's so much fun and inspiring to see what the seasoned and new chefs are putting out on the crewed yachts.  It's sure to be another season of great food in the BVI!