NASSAU, The Bahamas – Family Island students dominated the top finishing spots in this year’s Bahamas Young Chef Senior High School Culinary Competition.  

Following intense competition at Anatol Rodgers High School, the judges selected Anthonesha Thompson, 11th grade student of C.R. Walker Senior High School as the 2019 winner.  

Alissa Swain, of Patrick J. Bethel High School in Abaco finished second place; Delcardo Sweeting of St. George’s High School in Grand Bahama received third place; and Tatianna Major, a 10th grade student of Old Bight High School in Cat Island was pronounced the fourth place finisher.

Ten students representing government and private high schools throughout The Bahamas competed in the annual event, which is in its 27th year. They were given two hours to prepare dishes to the theme ‘Creatively Embracing Indigenous Foods Through Innovation for Sustainable Development,’ using Mahatma Rice, Robin Hood Flour, and the skills learned in Family and Consumer Science classes or Hospitality and Tourism Studies.  

Their original desserts and entrees were presented before a panel of professional chefs who are employed in the hospitality and tourism industries namely: Chef Theodore Burrows, Chef Gerald Rolle, Chef Hazel Rolle, Chef Devin Johnson, Chef Clement Williams, Chef Debbie Wheeler, Chef Owen Bain, Chef Devan McPhee and Chef Emmanuel Gibson.

The other participants in the senior high school competition were: Joshua Claridge, Rashad McKenzie, Charlotte Rolle, Richarlette Ingraham, Ashantee Taylor, and Labrano McPhee, Jr.

2019 Bahamas Senior High School Young Chef Culinary Competition.   (BIS Photos/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)