And the winner is: Victor Nal alonside Minister Heredia.

Teresita Choco with Casa Pan Dulce owners Andre and Delia Perez.

Victor Nal plates his winning dish.

A proud Teresita gets her trophy from Minister Heredia.

        The Taste of Belize has become the country’s signature culinary competition intended to develop the Culinary Arts in Belize. All competitors in the various categories were required to create a unique dish using his/her choice of ingredients. Their choice of dish could have been an appetizer, main dish or dessert which reflected either Belizean or regional cuisine. While family activities took place throughout the day, the culinary component of the competition began early Saturday morning. During the morning the judges eliminated a number of competitors from each category for the final round in the evening.

        By the end of the final round, veteran chef Victor Nal of Sunset Grill in San Pedro secured the title of Professional Chef of the Year 2009. Nal captured the public and judges’ attention with his Tower of Seared Coffee and Spice-Rubbed Beef Medallions layered with a Jalapeño and Cheese Malanga Papooce, Red Wine and Onion Sauce and served with sautéed Julian Vegetables. Nal walked away with the title of Professional Chef of the Year 2009, a trophy, a cash prize of $1,200 and a one week Culinary Scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America in New York, USA. Second place winner was Francisco Cano of Hopkins Bay Resort who walked away with a trophy and $800 cash prize. Coming in at third place was Marcia Nuñez of Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins Village who received a trophy and $500 cash prize.

        The title of “Young Professional Chef of the Year” was captured by Ernest Bradley. Bradley captured the judges with is his Coconut Cilantro Chicken, Garlicky Mashed Potatoes and Sauté Vegetables. For his win Bradley received a trophy and $800 in cash prize. Second place was captured by Mateo Villanueva of Mr. Greedy’s Pizzeria who took home a trophy and $500 cash. Student Rueben Cano came in third and received a trophy and a $300 cash prize.

         There were nine participants in the bartending category and they all had to create a signature drink that would win both the audience and judges. Bartender of the Year was captured by Mariano Coc, of Belizean Dreams in Hopkins Village with his drink “Traveller’s Juice.” In addition to wining his title for coming up with Belize’s best new signature drink for 2009, Coc was also awarded with a trophy and a $1,200 cash prize. The second place winner is Liberto Fermin Cho of Radisson Fort George who walked away with a trophy and $800 while Oscar Guerra of Cahal Pech Village in the Cayo District settled for third and was awarded a trophy and cash prize of $500.

        As part of this year’s Cake Decorating Competition each participant had to work around the theme “A Belizean Wedding.” In a matter of two hours and fifteen minutes San Pedro’s Teresita Choco of Casa Pan Dulce Bakery came up with this year’s winning cake. Choco captured the title of Cake Decorator of the Year 2009 for her Vanilla Yellow Cake decorated with palm trees and bright red Hibiscus flowers. Choco also walked away with a trophy and an $800 cash prize. The second place winner is self-employed Diane Galvez who took home a trophy and a $500 cash prize for her “Traditional Belizean Pound Cake with Pineapple Filling.” The third place winner Tamara Tingling of Social Investment Fund was awarded a trophy and a cash prize of $300 for her “Tropical Paradise Cake.”

        The Taste of Belize competition has become recognized as the place where the best dishes, drinks and cakes are created. However, it is a spectacular event to watch as a spectator. To stand on the stand lines and watch the chefs add that little touch of salt, to see the art with which they use their knives to cut their vegetables, to see them sauté their ingredients makes the show that more special. Bartenders line up and toss their tumblers filled with the liquor and juices of their choice only to splash them on a tall glass garnished with cherries, pineapple or banana. To stand and watch the bakers create the delicate flowers for their cakes, to see them ice their delicious creations and to wonder ‘how on Earth sugar can look like that?’ makes the Taste of Belize competition a breathtaking show. But, the competition is not just about watching it is about tasting too. And, Old Belize did an amazing job with their various food booths. The first had a hot Cow Foot Soup which was served enjoyed by all throughout the night. The second food booth had a whole roasted pig on the middle of the buffet table, and was served as Tacos Pibil with fresh corn tortillas and a scrumptious onion sauce and guacamole. The third booth had the traditional Rice and Beans with Stewed Chicken and all the trimmings, potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, fried plantains. The fourth and last booth had a Belizean favorite dessert – Sweet Potato Pone (Pudding).

        Congratulation to both Victor Nal of Sunset Grill and Teresita Choco of Casa Pan Dulce for a well deserved win.