From left: Best Junior Chef Shelomoih Stoutt receiving her trophy and surrounded by the chefs of Peter Island Resort under whose guidance she worked. For the table setting competition, Kierra John of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies came out on top. Photo: VINO

A number of young people of the territory made their parents proud when they took away prizes and trophies for completing and excelling in being junior chefs and waiters yesterday November 1, 2015. Photo: VINO

Speaking just before the awarding of prizes, head of the BVI Tourist Board Sharon Flax said that the young people were the future of the hospitality industry of the territory. Photo: VINO

Akeema Jupiter also of the Virgin Islands Technical School came second in the table setting competition. Photo: VINO

Amelie Clarke of Cedar School came third in the table setting competition. Photo: VINO

All of the winners of the two competitions. Photo: VINO

It was the occasion of the 8th Annual Janice Blyden Table Setting and 4th Annual Junior Chef Competition held for the first time at the Peter Island Resort. The two competitions are part of the BVI Food Festival, which currently has a calendar of culinary activities throughout the month of November.

For the table setting competition, Kierra John of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies came out on top whole Akeema Jupiter also of the same school took second and Amelie Clarke of Cedar School third. These were out of 14 participants.

In the Junior Chef Competition, Shelomoih Stoutt of Elmore Stoutt High School emerged the winner with second place going to Romario Morgan also of the Elmore Stoutt High School. There were a total of four participants in this competition.

Both competitions were run simultaneously where the students of the Junior Chef Challenge prepared a specific meal and were graded by experienced chefs on various aspects of the culinary arts.

The students of the Janice Blyden Table Setting competition had to display the skills required to set tables for the serving of two people and then proceed to wait on patrons who took part in the service aspect of the competition.

It starts here - Sharon Flax

Speaking just before the awarding of prizes, Director of the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) Sharon Flax said the young people were the future of the hospitality industry of the territory.

"For me this is the future of BVI tourism. We must educate our youth and we have to start somewhere," she said.

"What you are seeing here are our future restaurant managers, maitre-d’s, executive chefs and it starts here."

She thanked Peter Island Resort and Road Town Wholesale for their support of the programme. It was reported that all of the young people gave it their best and learned a lot in just one week of preparation for yesterday’s competition for which they should all be proud.

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Virgin Gorda leg of the 8th Annual Janice Blyden Table Setting and 4th Annual Junior Chef Competitions will be held on Sunday November 8, 2015 at Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort from 11am. The two competitions will follow the same concept as those held on Peter Island at the weekend.