A new group of chefs will represent Saint Lucia at this year’s TASTE competition, scheduled for November 16–18 in Barbados.
TASTE (short for Taste of the Caribbean) is a regional culinary competition, cultural showcase, and educational exchange organised by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).
Building on Saint Lucia’s second-place finish as Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year in 2024, the 2025 National Culinary Team comprises:
- Neville Joseph (Anse Chastanet) — Competing in the Senior Chef category
- Damisa William (Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa) — Junior Chef
- Khapel Gee Alcee (Ladera Resort) — Pastry Chef
- Ninus Charlouis (Ladera Resort) — Bartender
Supporting the team in backup roles are Davidson Henry (The BodyHoliday) — Senior Chef, Shermal Victorin (Jade Mountain) — Junior Chef, and Elissa Alcee (StolenTime) — Bartender.
This year, competitors were selected through a process that included interviews, teamwork exercises, and an evaluation by the culinary committee, which judgeda signature dish prepared by each participant. Organisers say they are hopeful that local culinary competitions, which were once held before the COVID-19 pandemic, will soon return.
TASTE culminates with the presentation of the coveted Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year award, based on each team’s overall performance. Twelve teams from across the region are expected to compete this year.
“There’s a strong desire to improve last year’s performance,” said Culinary Team Manager, Chef Fabian Vigee, during a press conference at the Harbor Club this week to officially unveil the team.
“Saint Lucia enters this competition determined and with unity,” Vigee added. “As we look ahead to November, we invite Saint Lucians to rally behind our team, to follow their journey… let us show the world and the Caribbean that we also have culinary Julien Alfreds.”
Despite facing challenges in raising funds to fully support the team’s participation this year, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) — the local facilitator — expressed gratitude to its partners and sponsors, including the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Invest Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.
Other key members of the 2025 National Culinary Team include:
- Mentor: Chef Emmany Hippolyte, 2024 Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year and Gold Medal Winner
- Management Team:
Chef Fabian Vigee — Team Manager
Wadi Zakhour — SLHTA Director and Chair of the Culinary Committee
Chef Eike Lauff — Consultant Chef
Chef Elijah Jules — Executive Sous Chef
Alva Preville — Bar Team Manager
Juliet Sutherland — Project Leader
