SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The St. Maarten / St. Martin Team to compete in the prestigious "Taste of The Caribbean" competition will consist of Senior Chef Jewel Daal, Pastry Chef Djaya Coupey, Junior Chef Jamal Dormoy. and Bartender Erion Peterson. "Taste" 2017 veteran Renata de Weever will be the team's coach. This was announced Thursday evening during the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) mixer at Kooyman.
The Taste of The Caribbean Competition, held since 1993, celebrates the vibrant flavors, rich culinary heritage, and creativity of Caribbean cuisine. Talented chefs from across the region come together in national competing teams to showcase their skills, passion, and island-inspired dishes.
It will be the first time a St. Maarten / St. Martin team will take part in the Taste of The Caribbean competition since 2017. Since its post-pandemic comeback, the competition has undergone profound adjustments. Participating National Culinary Teams are now smaller by design and agile, across various disciplines. Before the official reveal in the presence of Aida Weinum (Office de Tourisme) and May-Ling Chun (St. Maarten Tourism Bureau) as main supporting entities, the team had already commenced pre-trainings at Daal’s TJ Cassava Coal Pot restaurant, to jointly explore draft recipes and cocktail concoctions.
Coach Renata de Weever: “It is truly an honor to lead such a talented and passionate group of culinary professionals as we prepare to represent St. Maarten / St. Martin at Taste of The Caribbean 2026 in Barbados. As a culinary instructor at NIPA, teaching, mentoring, and encouraging others to develop their skills and creativity is an important part of who I am, and I am proud to bring that same passion for learning and development to this team.”
The mixer at Kooyman also functioned as a testing ground for Erion Peterson. His three cocktail entries for Taste of the Caribbean were presented to the attendees to collect feedback and input to further perfect these for the competition.
Mireille Dropvat of PDG Supplies, supporter of both the St. Maarten Flavors and Festival de la Gastronomie culinary events, present at the Kooyman team said: “Our island is the undisputed culinary capital of the Caribbean, seeing both sides of the island coming together as a team to show the world our talent, taste and island flair, is a wonderful way to promote the island as a destination for fun, friendliness and dining”.
Coach de Weever knows what to expect in the intense upcoming weeks, until contest partner Winair will take them to the event grounds at Sam Lord’s Castle in Barbados, for the mid-November contest. “This journey is about more than competition. It is an opportunity for us to exchange knowledge, challenge ourselves, learn from one another, and grow together as culinary professionals. Throughout our training, I have been especially proud of the dedication, collaboration, and island pride that unite us. Together, we are committed to showcasing the vibrant flavors, creativity, culture, and culinary talent of St. Maarten / St, Martin while representing our island with pride and excellence.”
