The Caribbean Culinary Federation (CCF), culinary arm of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), has announced the program of events surrounding the regional culinary competition Taste of the Caribbean, to be held October 2-5, 2003, at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 
While the main goal of Taste of the Caribbean is to further the professional development of food and beverage professionals in the Caribbean, the four-day event will include tastings, workshops, seminars, and demonstrations for both professionals and food-lovers alike. “Taste will be a celebration of the rich and diverse tradition of Caribbean cuisine,” said CCF Chairman Peter Rousseau, of Jamaica.
Seven national teams have already confirmed their participation: Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago. They are now undergoing the arduous process of getting ready to compete - designing and perfecting the menu, and rehearsing as a team.
The program starts on the evening of Thursday, October 2, with the first round of team competitions. The four-course creations of the competing teams will be served for dinner, paired with wines and followed by a tasting seminar on after-dinner digéstifs. On October 3 and 4, the rounds of team competitions continue, with teams working in two shifts. Each day, the first shift will serve lunch, with wine pairings and a wine tasting seminar, and the second shift will prepare dinner, following the same format of the first evening. Meanwhile, the ice carving, centerpiece displays, bartenders, and individual chef’s competitions will take place October 4 and 5. 

Taste of the Caribbean will also feature a number of workshops for food and beverage professionals and epicures. In addition, a Caribbean exhibitor trade show will focus on easing access to state-of-the-art Caribbean products and services for Caribbean hospitality professionals, to strengthen the linkages to agriculture in the region. 

The program will culminate with the presentation of the Caribbean Food and Beverage Awards of Excellence, the highest honors conferred on members of the Caribbean food and beverage industry.

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