Yam dish tops St Kitts-Nevis Restaurant Week Challenge

The executive chef of the Ocean Terrace is celebrating after his yam-heavy dish saw him win the St Kitts and Nevis Restaurant Week Challenge.

Larry Monrose served yam-crusted mahi-mahi with yam dumplings and a yam butter sauce.

The third annual Restaurant Week takes place between 19-30 July, and is a time when participating restaurants across the federation offer special menus with exquisite selected dishes, fixed price dinner menus, and lunch time specials at reduced prices.

Monrose competed against Joel Huggins, head chef at Vibes Beach Bar, who finished second, and third-placed Kachiana Robin, assistant chef at the Timothy Beach Hotel.

The executive chef thanked his team at the Ocean Terrace in, who he described as his biggest supporters.

“I get my daily inspiration from my wonderful team members and my complement of staff. This competition has really been a wonderful experience for me,” he said, adding that the time given for the challenge – 90 minutes – flew by fast, but he was able to emerge the winner.

“I want to urge the ministry to continue doing these sort of programmes and definitely you will have the support from OTI because that is what we are all about, just try to promote sustainability.

“We need everybody in St. Kitts and Nevis to come on board the sustainability train.”

Carlene Henry-Morton, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, congratulated all of the participants.

“I think it was a keenly contested cook off and I think that the results would show that and as Mr Monrose said, this is something that the Ministry of Tourism intends to continue working on and building,” said the permanent secretary, adding that it would be an inspiration for all, especially students.