St. Maarten and St. Martin will send a joint team of culinary professionals to the prestigious Taste of the Caribbean competition, held this November in Barbados by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The combined team will represent both sides of the binational island, as announced today by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), l’Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin, and the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau.
Held since 1993, Taste of the Caribbean is an annual culinary competition organized by the CHTA that brings together top chefs, bartenders, and culinary talents from across the region. Following a multi-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the event returned in 2024 with a renewed format.
Today’s announcement marks the culmination of years of preparation. On St. Maarten, the annual “St. Maarten Flavors” culinary month served as a fundraiser to help cover the significant costs of sending the delegation. In collaboration with Renata de Weever—coach of the successful 2017 team a plan was developed with the Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin, St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and with support from the Club du Tourisme to launch a new joint team for the 2026 competition.
“We are elated to work together to spread the word about the ‘Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.’ With the Festival de la Gastronomie and ‘Taste’ in one month, we look forward to a truly gastronomic November!” said Aïda Weinum, Director of the Office de Tourisme.
Practical preparations began this Tuesday under the leadership of Coach Renata De Weever. Over the coming weeks, the team will undergo rigorous training sessions and practice exercises leading up to the main event.
May-ling Chun of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau said: “We are proud to see St Maarten / St. Martin return to Taste of the Caribbean as one team, celebrating the flavors, talent and shared passion of our island. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our culinary heritage and inspire the next generation of chefs and bartenders”.
The successful 2017 team featured Team Captain Dino Jagtiani, Chefs Pieter Holstein, Ronald Estephane, and David Cudicio, Junior Chefs Suzy Adoptie and Mrinal Wadhwa, and team member Justin Assendelft.
Addressing the new members, veteran Renata De Weever emphasized that participants should not let the high pace or media attention overwhelm them. “In the end, it’s about sticking to your core experience and the recipes you believe in. Taste is what prevails in this competition—don’t overcomplicate it,” Renata De Weever advised.
All parties involved are grateful for Winair’s support, which enables the team to get to the contest in Barbados next month.
The full roster for the new team will be announced shortly. Those interested in sampling the team’s creations during the run-up to the competition can sign up by contacting events@shta.com.