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Food & Beverage Professionals: Learn The Latest Trends, Techniques, Experience Caribbean Cuisine & Cocktails At Taste Of The Caribbean


Event Returns To Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 28 - July 2, 2014

Taste of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) culinary event of the year, brings together experts and food & beverage professionals to discuss and share the latest trends and techniques through educational seminars while enjoying some of the best Caribbean cuisine and libations the region has to offer.  The event returns to Miami for its third consecutive year and will be staged at the Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 28 - July 2, 2014.  

Educational workshops are a key component of Taste of the Caribbean which can enhance a culinary specialist's skillset.  Food and beverage managers can learn about the latest trends which can lead to profitability in food and beverage operations.

"Food and beverage professionals, managers and staff will benefit from the educational component offered at Taste of the Caribbean," said Josef Forstmayr, chairman of CHTA, who oversees the event.  "Chefs and bartenders will learn about the latest trends in food and beverage preparation, while managers can get operational tips for improving the bottom line in their department," Forstmayr added.

At Taste of the Caribbean, food-related companies can exhibit at the tradeshow where they demonstrate the latest industry tools to registered culinary professionals.  The tradeshow provides a one-stop forum for gathering practical information, sampling, purchasing, strengthening supplier relationships and meeting new vendors.  Tabletop display registration with one delegate is US$750, plus US$175 for each additional delegate.

A highlight of the event is the head-to-head competitions between Caribbean culinary teams vying for top honors in Caribbean cuisine and beverages.  There are currently nine culinary teams registered for the event from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Participating countries are currently holding individual competitions to select who will represent them come cooking time. Each national team is comprised of two senior chefs, one junior chef, one bartender, one pastry chef and one manager.  The participating team members represent hotels, restaurants or educational institutions in the Caribbean which are members of CHTA.

During a series of competitions, chefs and bartenders from each country will present a variety of Caribbean entrees and cocktails as they battle for top honors including: Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year , Caribbean Bartender of the Year and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year.

"The Caribbean has a unique food culture that enhances guests' vacation experience," said Richard J. Doumeng, president of CHTA.  "Taste of the Caribbean provides a platform for showcasing the best of our region's cuisine to professionals and consumers attending the event driving awareness for the Caribbean brand in one of our priority markets," Doumeng noted.

Registration

Full event registration, applicable to hoteliers, government entities and food/beverage professionals attending the entire duration of the event, is US$175 for CHTA members and US$225 for non-members.  The registration fee includes access to all educational sessions, all events on the program including the Awards Dinner and access to the tradeshow.  The competition events are not included and are additional including US$40 for Taste of the Islands and US$50 each for the Competition Lunch and Competition Dinner.  CHTA is also offering two package options for the competition events: US$85 per person for the Competition Lunch and Competition Dinner or US$110 per person for the Competition Lunch, Competition Dinner and Taste of the Islands festival.

Taste of the Caribbean is staged by CHTA in conjunction with patron sponsors MasterCard and Interval Internationalalong with Team of the Year sponsor International Dairy.

For details about sponsorship opportunities, contact Gabi Doria Simpson at gabi@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com or call (305) 443-3040.

For more information about Taste of the Caribbean visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/events-taste/event-taste-about.php or contact CHTA at (305) 443-3040.
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