A team of two young women, who represented Dominica, has captured bronze in the 6th annual Caribbean Junior Dueling Challenge (CJDC) in Barbados.
They said this was done despite several challenges faced.
J’Anne Robinson of Marigot, a second year student of the Dominica State College (DSC) and Emanne Jeffers of Citronier, also of the DSC, said that their lack of culinary knowledge placed them at a disadvantage to the other competitors.
“What we lacked a little in was the presentation and our technical skills,” Robinson said. “The other competitors went to culinary schools and they don’t offer culinary schools down here so we a little disadvantaged.”
Jeffers added that the other competitors were winners in other cooking competitions held in their own locales.
“So we were actually on the back track,” she said.
Furthermore, the two had to settle for Barbadian style smoked Marlin for their “Callaloo Twist Salad” instead of the smoked wildlife meat they wanted to use from Dominica. They could not use the meat from Dominica since the wildlife season was off.
However, they “did well,” Robinson pointed out, saying that the judges gave them high praise.
Grenada, Bonaire, St. Croix, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana and St. Lucia participated in the competition which was open to participants ages 13-20.
The two were assisted and supported by last year’s bronze medalists Zawadi Warner and Mitra Morancie, Chef Rhonda Armour and parliamentary representative for Roseau South, Ambrose George.
There were two rounds in the competition: the national dish and a mystery basket.
The competition was filmed and will be aired on a television station in Barbados.
Team Bonaire was the overall winner, followed by the team from Barbados, and Guyana.
Dominica has been participating in the competition since 2011 and won a bronze medal for the first time in 2013.
So What Happen To The Senior 4-H Local Dinner Plate Competition been happen for 6 years (organised by Youth Development Division)Winner?
If you all had experience as you stated you did not have I think that you would win this competion. Congratulation and keep up the good work.
I think you both did great!! Congrats!
Well done young ladies could you imagine if they were taught to culmative level they would be awesome. So gov please help there is a market for our young folks to he taught perhaps leading to employment and buisness
This should be reason for the state to fund them to culinary school. Congratulations!
congratulations to you ladies and all those who worked alone with you
keep it up!
Congratulations to the both of you and lift your chins and feel proud that with all the challenges you went into the competition and gave it your all. This shows discipline and determination two basic life survival skills. Keep the focus, well done my nature island sisters.
Very good effort. Congrats, girls!
Congratulations to the young ladies and their organizers.
They said that they were not open up to the expectations…
Can you imagine if they were fully prepared? Gold!
The last sentence said, “Dominica has been participating in the competition since 2011….
The organizers need to inform and prepare future participants for the competition.
Congratulations. The Bronze medal for culinary cooking – arts. This is a start and encouraging. You will do better the next time around.
These days healthy cooking and presentation are the norm. Aside from receiving tutorship from some experts, you should access some Websites where video demonstrations are conducted; also on TV. You could do this on your own. There are many recipe Websites which could help you in this respect.
congratulation ladies!! i do hope that a culinary school will be introduced in the near future..All the best in your future endeavours: )
Good tings from the youth dem….big up!
I am very encouraged by this article. There IS hope for our people. Proud of you two young ladies. Dominica needs to invest in this area as a boost to our tourism industry.
Imagine if you young ladies had gone to culinary school wow!!!!
Congrats keep it up.
Congratulations. Can imagine what you guys could do if you had experience. Keep it up.
Great job
Very good young ladies. You did well. Once again Dominican youth doing something positive. Bravo!!!
Congrats #team culinary#
Way to go girls – you have made us proud. Congrats. That dish should be featured in all hotels and restaurants from the airport to…island wide – even during the festivals WMCF, CITP etc., as a way to motivate others
Congratulations! Despite the odds against you as you mentioned, you earned a bronze which says something. Keep it up. Continue to shine for yourselves and Dominica.
you go girls