A five-man team of Jamaica's finest culinary experts are sharpening their knives as they head off to the annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourist Association's Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition in Puerto Rico.

Departing today, the team of coach/manager Stephen Sowa, executive chef at Half Moon; Ravi Anne, chef de cuisine of the Sugar Mill Restaurant at Half Moon; Brian Lumley, executive chef at the French Embassy; Martin Maginley, executive chef at Round Hill Hotel & Villas; Gilbert McKenzie, pastry chef and Junior Lewis, bartender at Starfish Resort & Spa, will compete against 13 other national teams in the two-day competition being held at the Caribe Hilton June 12-14.

Having spent over six months practising various recipes and presentations, the national team's coach Chef Sowa is confident that the team will win a medal in the annual competition. "The chefs have worked on creative and exotic ways to use local ingredients as well as exciting plate presentations. Junior has been practising his mixology techniques and skills and really has a flair for impressing the audience. The team is really excited and have worked hard these past few months to ensure that we do well," Chef Sowa said.

Mystery basket

The competition gives teams a mystery basket of 20 items to make a three-course meal for 35 guests using all the items in the basket in just four hours. The menu is judged on taste, balance, originality, creativity and preparation of skills. Chefs from the top four finishers of the mystery basket segment move on to compete individually for the crown of Chef of the Caribbean and Pastry Chef of the Caribbean.

While the chefs are challenging the mystery basket, Junior Lewis will represent Jamaica in the bartending competition covering three categories. Bartenders will have 15 minutes to prepare two portions of their signature drink in the respective category. The bartenders will be judged on creativity, bartending skills and personality.

Top four bartenders

The top four bartenders will move on to compete for the Caribbean Bartender of the Year title.

The Taste of the Caribbean is the annual food and beverage festival of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association and is aimed at educating and inspiring food and beverage professionals across the Caribbean.

Team Jamaica is sponsored by Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Goddard Catering, Fiesta Hotels, National Meats, Rainforest Seafoods, Clinicare Pharmacy, GraceKennedy, Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Half Moon, Starfish Resort & Spa, Chas Ramson, Wisynco and Caribbean Flavours & Fragrances.