CHTA announces the winners of Taste of the Caribbean 2025

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) announced that Bonaire was recognized as the Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year during Taste of the Caribbean 2025. The competition, considered the region's premier culinary and cultural event and a key training opportunity for food and beverage professionals, was held in conjunction with the Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which took place in Barbados from November 16-18.

The 2025 edition brought together representatives from 11 Caribbean destinations—Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Curaçao, Grenada, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—who competed in various categories in a day of creativity, technique, and high professional standards. According to Vanessa Ledesma, executive director of the CHTA, the event once again demonstrated the continued advancement of culinary and mixology talent in the region, reinforcing the organization's commitment to the development of the Caribbean gastronomic community.

Among the individual awards, Jake Kelkboom of Bonaire was named Caribbean Chef of the Year, while Elise Weerstand, also from Bonaire, received the Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year award. Alex Chandler of Barbados was named Caribbean Bartender of the Year and was also recognized as the Most Creative Bartender. The Junior Chef of the Year award went to Gabrielle Martin, representing the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The competition also included special awards presented by sponsors and partner organizations. Among these were the Best Use of Watermelon awards, in both the culinary and beverage categories, won by Gabrielle Martin (Turks and Caicos Islands) and Ninus Charlouis (Saint Lucia), respectively. In the Certified Angus Beef categories, Giovanni Lapid (Turks and Caicos Islands) was recognized in the senior division, while Dejuan Toppin (Barbados) received the junior award.

The competition also awarded the Andre Niederhauser Prize for Best Contemporary Caribbean Dish to Jake Kelkboom (Bonaire), and the Tony Mack Spirit of Competition Award to Dalundra Fulford (Turks and Caicos Islands). Ninus Charlouis (Saint Lucia) won the award for best rum drink, while Cristian Silva Aparicio (Bonaire) was recognized for best non-alcoholic drink. Frantjesko Leonora (Curaçao) received awards for both Best Use of Angostura Bitters and Best Mystery Bar Drink. The Josué Merced-Reyes Spirit of Competition Award went to Niño Moreno of Belize.

Taste of the Caribbean 2025 was supported by Wyndham Grand Barbados and Sam Lord's Castle All-Inclusive Resort & Spa as main sponsors. Other participants included ABA Global Marketing, ACADO Barbados, Angostura, Certified Angus Beef, Interval International, Mastercard, the National Watermelon Promotions Board, SilverwarePOS, The Anything Group, and the U.S. Meat Exporters Federation, whose support was crucial to the success of this landmark edition.