Ambergris Today Daily Blog: Taste Of Belize 2010 Winners

Professional Chef Competition:
1st: Calbert Santiago - D Deck Restaurant

The 9th Annual Taste of Belize culinary competition took place this past weekend at the ITVET Campus on Freetown Rd. in Belize City. Coming in strong for San Pedro was third place winner in the Professional Chef Competition Chef Luis Cawich of Rico’s Bar and Grill/The Villas at Banyan Bay. Topping the competition was Chef Calbert Santiago of D Deck Restaurant. Here’s a list of this year’s winners. Images Courtesy of Belize Tourism Board - www.facebook.com/travelbelize

*Winners for Professional Chef at 9th Annual Taste of Belize:
1st: Calbert Santiago - D Deck Restaurant
2nd: Jason De Campo - Global Spice
3rd: Luis Cawich - The Villas at Banyan Bay / Rico's Bar & Grill

*Winners for Best of Belize at 9th Annual Taste of Belize:
1st: Orange Walk
2nd: Dangriga
3rd: Hopkins
Crowd Favorite: Cayo

**Destinations from Belize came to the event cooking food that their destination is known for.

Winners for Bartending of 9th Annual Taste of Belize:
1st: Kendra Timons - Radisson Fort George
2nd: Marvin Argereth - Riverside Tavern
3rd: Mariano Coc - San Ignacio Hotel

*Winners for Cake Decoration of 9th Annual Taste of Belize:
1st: Tamara Tingling
2nd: Diane Galvez - Self Employed
3rd: Sharon Mckay - Nazarene High School

Elvi's Kitchen ran the booth for San Pedro

Conch Fritters from San Pedro

The Best of Belize destination booth competition was a new addition to this year's Taste of Belize. Destinations around the country set up booths and competed for the best regional food:

Toledo Booth: Calaloo in soy & sesame sauce, Barracuda fish cakes, Grated coco yam fritters, Curried pumpkin.

San Pedro Booth: Conch fritters, Conch ceviche, Che-chac (fish soup).

Cayo Booth: Bollos de chaya, Pibil dumplings, Escabeche, Combo plate special

Dangriga Booth: Hudut, Darasa w/ stew chicken, Cohune cabbage w/ homemade corn tortilla, Lobster/shrimp sere

Orange Walk Booth: Roast pork tacos, Black relleno tacos, Chicken pipian all with homemade corn tortillas

Bartending Competition

Final Round of Professional Chef Competition:

Surprise ingredients - Gibnut, 2 Belikin Beer, Dark Chocolate & Chaya

Chef Luis Cawich prepares the Gibnuyt

Cake Decorating Competition

Other Winners:

Bartender Competition:
3rd: Mariano Coc - San Ignacio Hotel

Bartender Competition:
2nd: Marvin Argereth - Riverside Tavern

Bartender Competition:
1st: Kendra Timons - Radisson Fort George

Best of Belize Competition:
3rd Place - Destination Hopkins

Best of Belize Competition: 2nd Place - Destination Dangriga
Verna Castillo - Pelican Beach Resort, Mr & Mrs. Julio Saqui - Maya Center Museum, Melonie Flores - Pelican Beach Resort