Talented Chefs, Bartenders Needed for Award-Winning USVI Culinary Team

The USVI Hotel & Tourism Association is seeking talented and creative individuals to join the award-winning USVI Culinary Team. Open team positions include two chefs, a pastry chef and a bartender. Team members will meet regularly to hone their skills before representing the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Taste of the Caribbean. The team also participates in local and association events throughout the year.

Applicants must be 21 or older, good public speakers, able to attend monthly practices March through May and weekly practices in June, and attend the Taste of the Caribbean in Miami, Fla., June 26-30. Applicants should be innovative, value teamwork and thrive under pressure. The deadline to apply for bartender and chef positions is March 6.

Following application reviews, a cook-off will be held on a date to be announced to determine the final team members. Bartender applicants will similarly participate in a bartender competition at Old Stone Farmhouse on March 13 to determine the team bartender. Interested individuals must apply by March 6 in order to participate in the cook-off or bartender competition. Call the USVIHTA office at 774-6835 or email lisa@usvihta.com for applications.

“We’re thrilled to once again work with a full group of talented culinary artists after functioning on a limited basis following hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said USVIHTA President Lisa Hamilton. “The USVI Culinary Team members have a long history of proudly representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we’re excited to bring home gold in 2020!”

The team will be comprised of a team manager, two senior chefs, one junior chef, a pastry chef, a bartender and junior chefs. Funds, practice space, travel assistance and more will be provided by the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association, association members and team sponsors. The USVI Department of Tourism will support the team as a Platinum Elite sponsor.

The USVI Culinary Team not only inspires local talent and creates educational opportunities, but gives the territory prime exposure at the Taste of the Caribbean competition. The event, which is held in conjunction with the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum, is attended by hundreds of national and international stakeholders and tourism professionals.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association is a not-for-profit corporation, which serves as the unifying organization for hotels, guest houses, inns, condominiums, campgrounds and other tourism related business in the St. Thomas-St. John District.