The Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition and the Bartender of the Year Competition which have been held annually will not take place this year but in 2009 to the disappointment of the various teams and properties. Anguilla, which has been doing very well in both contests over the years, was among the usually participating territories which were preparing for the 2008 event scheduled for Jamaica.

Trudy Nixon and Anguilla Rums Staff making presentation to Mr. Stephane Zaharia

Catherine Niles, a popular bartender at CuisinArt Resort & Spa, who performed exceptionally well in last year’s competition in Miami, was recently selected to represent Anguilla at the regional competition in September. A number of chefs were also chosen to compete this year but, like Catherine, will have to wait until 2009.

“Going forward, we now have a pre-selected team of chefs and we also have a bartender who we will be able to practice a lot with,” Trudy Nixon, Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, said. She was speaking on Friday, July 25, during the presentation of trophies to CuisinArt Resort & Spa and Catherine Niles for winning the local bartender competition a month or so ago.

Mr. James Denis of CuisinArt, Catherine Niles, Anguilla Rums and Hotel Association personnel

She said this was the first time that trophies were presented to both the person selected to represent Anguilla at the regional competition and the host property which supported the Bartender of the Year. “This is very important because not only do we rely on our bartenders, but we rely very heavily on the organisations that they represent, and we really appreciate the support and all the effort that they put in,” Ms Nixon added.

She joined Cavel Illidge, Sales Representative of Anguilla Rums, in presenting a trophy to CuisinArt’s General Manager, Stephane Zaharia, in recognition of the property’s support for Ms Niles.

Catherine Niles receiving Bartender of the Year Award

Replying, James Denis, the resort’s Food and Beverage Director, congratulated the property’s competing Bartender of the Year for her dedication to bartending and her creativity in drink-mixing. He also commended Anguilla Rums for its sponsorship and its fine production of Pyrat Rum.

After receiving her trophy, Ms Niles said she was delighted to have won the local competition and was looking forward to winning the regional Bartender of the Year Competition in 2009. “Thanks to everyone for helping me out with the hard work, especially my bar team,” she stated. “I will try hard for the next competition.”

The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Gilda Gumbs, Membership and Events Manager with the Hotel and Tourism Association. She hoped that the local Bartender Competition would become larger each year and that when it is held on a regional basis that Anguilla would continue to perform well.

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