Megan Felicien and Michaela Poleon of Ciceron Secondary are the new champions of the 2016 SLHTA Chefs in Schools Cook-Off Competition.

The event catered for a small studio audience of students, teachers and parents who came out to cheer and show support for their respective culinary teams.

The SLHTA Chefs in Schools Competition is an annual cooking event which targets Food and Nutrition students of Forms Three to Five, who are passionate about cooking and desirous of a career in Culinary Arts.

Adopting a similar format from Barbados’ Caribbean Junior Dueling Challenge, students fought their way through two rounds of competition including the signature/freestyle round and the mystery basket round.

After the first round of competition which included all the six participating schools, only three schools made it through to the second round. Corinth, Soufriere and Ciceron Secondary schools presented the most impressive dishes which afforded them a place in the finals: the mystery basket round.

After 90 minutes to discuss, prepare and present their dishes with the excitement and buzz from the audience, the teams astounded the judges with beautiful and flavorful dishes.

In 3rd place, Raynesia Charles and Shane Garacksingh of Corinth Secondary presented "The Corinth Way," a herb and cornmeal crusted snapper fillet in Creole sauce, married with cheddar potato and a bouquet of vegetables; and shrimp and spinach cannelloni.

In 2nd place, Jenneh Abel and Alvina Brown of Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary presented "Surf 'n' Surf," cornmeal crusted shrimp and panseared shrimp; a roasted red snapper, love apple, mango and smoke herring salad; and a soursop dressing breadfruit coconut casserole.

The champion dish presented by Megan Felicien and Michaela Poleon of Ciceron Secondary was a cornmeal and saltfish crusted red snapper with a tania croquet and apricot compote. Megan and Michaela will be traveling to Barbados in two months to represent Saint Lucia at the Caribbean Junior Duelling Challenge.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) congratulates all the participants in the 2016 competition including the Gros Islet, Sir Ira Simmons, and Babonneau Secondary schools, and the top three schools Ciceron, Soufriere Comprehensive, and Corinth Secondary; and the participating coaches Chef Niguel Gerald – Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort; Chef Elijah Jules – Anse Chastanet/Jade Mountain; Chef Refer Leonce – Cap Maison; Chef Peter Lawrence – Bay Gardens Beach Resort; Chef Brandford Edmond/ Mrs. Rosie Joinville – Tapas on the Bay; and Chef Eike Lauff – Royal by Rex Resorts.

The 2016 SLHTA Chefs in Schools Cook-Off Competition is sponsored by the SLHTA Tourism Enhancement Fund.