The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association , Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Bahama Breeze, will host Taste of the Caribbean at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan from June 12 - 14, 2009.“This is the one Caribbean food and beverage festival not to be missed,” said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA, noting the importance of “the one annual opportunity for culinary professionals to network, polish professional skills and cheer on colleagues in competition, before a large audience of industry peers and enthusiasts.”

Sponsored by Bahama Breeze, Albert Uster Imports, Inc., Certified Angus Beef and Fosters Wines, Taste of the Caribbean provides education through seminars, workshops, tastings and demonstrations, created to enhance performance, style and profitability in food and beverage operations.

Culinary teams from Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago and U.S. Virgin Islands have signed up to compete for the honor of Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year and Caribbean Bartender of the Year.

Taste of the Caribbean also features a unique trade show which provides a one-stop forum for gathering practical information, sampling, purchasing, strengthening established supplier relationships and meeting new vendors who are on hand to help registrants build their food and beverage business as well as yield benefits for their bottom line.
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