CHTA, Puerto Rico to Host “Taste of the Caribbean” in June

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 to 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, Curacao, 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.

Registration begins at 12:00pm on Friday, June 12. Opening remarks will take place Friday evening at 6 pm, followed by a welcome reception at the trade show at 6:30 pm sponsored by Puerto Rico and featuring local cuisine prepared by culinary schools. The first bartender competition –focusing on rum– will take place at 8 pm on Friday evening.

The first two rounds of team competitions begin on Saturday, June 13, at 8 am and 4 pm, respectively. The last two bartender competitions will be held on Saturday at 4:30 pm (non-alcoholic) and 6 pm (vodka). A number of workshops, demonstrations and CHTA committee meetings will be held throughout the day.

Sunday, June 14, will begin at 7:30 am with the Taste of the Caribbean Individual Awards Breakfast. The Taste of the Caribbean Finals will take place from 11 am to 3 pm. Taste of the Caribbean will conclude with the awards and closing dinner sponsored by Puerto Rico at 7:30 pm on Sunday, June 14.

Exhibitors will be able to promote their products and services to delegates by purchasing a tabletop display at Taste of the Caribbean. Tabletop fees are $750 plus $175 per exhibitor delegate.

Registration fees for hoteliers and food and beverage delegates are $175 prior to May 8, 2009. CHTA hotel members can pay for the conference using unsold rooms with dates of their choosing (blackout dates are allowed). Registration fees for all other member categories are $275 before May 8, 2009.