RJB Hotel & Restaurant Supplies has thrown its support yet again to Saint Lucian’s fast-growing culinary industry.
This time around, the major appliance and food distributor sponsored the first-ever NRDF/SLHTA Cake Challenge held over the Independence weekend. The company’s sponsorship came in the form of equipment, including stainless steel tables and mixing bowls the six chefs used in their preparation.
Sales representative, Hennieth Charlemagne, says RJB Hotel & Restaurant Supplies was more than happy to team up with the SLHTA, NRDF and other sponsors to make the competition the success it was. He renewed the company’s commitment to doing its part in ensuring that the local tourism product grows.
“We’re always happy to come on board with anything that is tourism-related, especially if it showcases our local talent,” Charlemagne said. “As a leading supplier of hotel and restaurant supplies, we fit right into that mix.”
The competition was eventually won by Junior Pastry Chef, Ronald Estephane, of Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa, who won a one-week scholarship to Johnson and Wales University Culinary Institute in Miami, Florida.
Charlemagne said he was pleased to see more sponsors coming on board such initiatives, adding that it shows the potential and importance of the culinary arts in the tourism sector’s portfolio. He said that especially when young people are the beneficiaries of such opportunities where they get to express their creative talents, RJB Hotel & Restaurant Supplies will spare no effort in assisting. He also thanked NRDF for introducing the competition that has since attracted much buzz from budding pastry chefs.
“I urge NRDF to continue to keep the competition alive. The hardest part is starting something but the second-hardest part is continuing. But our support will always be there to ensure that this initiative continues,” Charlemagne said.
Previously, RJB Hotel & Restaurant Supplies has lent support to numerous culinary demonstrations, including Schools Cook-Off, and Chef Nina Compton’s culinary demonstration at last year’s Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and this year’s Wedding Symposium.