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Kenesha Smith repeats as winner of CIL’s Traditional Christmas Cake Competition

- Denise Wintz was 2nd & Khalila Bartley 3rd
For the second consecutive year, Kenesha Smith, left, was adjudged the winner of the Caribbean Insurers Limited (CIL) Traditional Christmas Cake from Around the World Competition. Right is Director of CIL Mrs Simone T. Montsanto. Photo: VINO
Taking the second-place prize of $175.00 was Denise Wintz, centre, who had placed third in last year’s competition. Wintz made a Christmas black cake that is traditional in Guyana. Photo: VINO
Taking the second-place prize of $175.00 was Denise Wintz, centre, who had placed third in last year’s competition. Wintz made a Christmas black cake that is traditional in Guyana. Photo: VINO
Third was Khalila Bartley, who pocketed $100. Photo: VINO
Third was Khalila Bartley, who pocketed $100. Photo: VINO
Patrick Cunningham, the lone male to enter the competition, placed 4th in the 2023 Caribbean Insurers Limited (CIL) Traditional Christmas Cake from Around the World Competition. Photo: VINO
Patrick Cunningham, the lone male to enter the competition, placed 4th in the 2023 Caribbean Insurers Limited (CIL) Traditional Christmas Cake from Around the World Competition. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- For the second consecutive year, Kenesha Smith was adjudged the winner of the Caribbean Insurers Limited (CIL) Traditional Christmas Cake from Around the World Competition.

The judging for the competition was done at Christmas in the City on Shoreway Drive on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Ms Smith took the top prize of $350.00. Her cake was traditional Jamaican cake.

Taking the second-place prize of $175.00 was Denise Wintz, who had placed third in last year’s competition.

Wintz made a Christmas black cake that is traditional in Guyana.

Third was Khalila Bartley, who pocketed $100.

Patrick Cunningham, the lone male to enter the competition, placed 4th. No males took part last year.

Criteria for judging

Some 20 entries were received for this year’s competition.

The criteria for judging were Presentation (eye appealing, colourful), Taste, and Texture (moisture, density, dryness).

18 Responses to “Kenesha Smith repeats as winner of CIL’s Traditional Christmas Cake Competition”

  • resident (03/12/2023, 10:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    happy bday to elle mn
  • Nice.. (03/12/2023, 10:36) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Creative art of beauty..
  • Asking For Myself (03/12/2023, 10:55) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where can I find her to place my orders
    • @Asking For Myself (03/12/2023, 12:24) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply

      Her cakes are really nice, you can call her at the Hospital 

  • Hmm (03/12/2023, 11:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was wondering how come some was well decorated and some were not?
  • Hmm (03/12/2023, 11:38) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Traditional Christmas cake does not have no icing nor all those decorations on top. for presentation wise decorations around the cake should only be accepted. birthday cakes are the ones that have all the decorations not traditional christmas cake
  • Oh yeah (03/12/2023, 12:17) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yaaaaaaay, Denise!!!
  • Really (03/12/2023, 12:28) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    should have been a plain cake
    • Umm (04/12/2023, 07:20) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      did you not read the thing IT SAYS THAT YOUR CAKE HAS TO BE DECORATIVE if u can't read don't comment. Look on facebook or the flyer
      • @Umm (04/12/2023, 16:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Well you should enlightened the judges what traditional Christmas cake are? They did say eye appealing and colorful. I guess next year if they asked for this very criteria everyone will have beautiful Christmas print on their cake.
  • Know her (03/12/2023, 14:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Her number is 341-4318
  • facts (03/12/2023, 16:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Simone doing a lot for the community
  • Referee (03/12/2023, 23:09) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    How does a Jamaican cake win in the Virgin Islands? She should not have made cut...
    • @referee (06/12/2023, 15:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      stop being an a$$. cause she a jamaican she dont have hands to bake a cake? strupppes
  • Yes (04/12/2023, 07:31) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    We realy have this thing twisted...a christmas cake is never icing especialy back cake only wedding cake request ici
    ng. Black from child hood days...people must realize that there otjer cake that taste much nicer than that very said cake.. she only win by cake top decoration her christmas wreath.
    I have had black cake many person who are great maker of black...
    I have had the black cake from the mother of flavorfull treat
    As she sells for christmas vendingand their carrot cake
    Gauva berry and coquito christmas drink...yes.in my oppion
    The black should have no icing like that even the best baker have thier black plain.....the winter lady from nanny cakes at rite ways cakes are quite good the best of janacia black are plain .
    So ctl pleade change this concept of icong blake...
    In guiana christmad time.the sptead is icing black
    Please go to the drawing board .
  • All in All (04/12/2023, 10:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sometimes the judges TASTE PALLET BE WAYYYYYY OFF. When your taste pallet is off, Don’t be a food judge unless you know what a taste pallet means. IS THERE ANY FOOD CRITICS ON THE ISLAND?
  • All in All (04/12/2023, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Black cake taste nasty just like coconut tart. Black cake is bitter and have to many foreign ingredients mixed up inside. Trinidad and Guyana black cake is the worse. And that pepper pot and cook up rice. YUCK!


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