Seventeen years ago, The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards sought to make a statement that food in Jamaica was worthy of recognition. Our statement then, as it is now, is that there is a world of creativity and excellence in food. Back then, there was one important element missing — there was no vehicle to applaud the efforts of the hundreds of thousands of people who work in food in Jamaica.

That belief has fuelled the drive to each year amplify the Food Awards experience. That belief also fuels sustainability and now in our seventeenth year, we are thrilled and honoured to welcome the Cayman Islands.

The Best Dressed Chicken is proud to present The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food

Awards – The Cayman Edition, October 16, 2015.

The Caribbean’s Premier Culinary Experience

About The Jamaica Observer

The Jamaica Observer aims to deliver cutting-edge journalism to a local and international audience we acknowledge to be constantly evolving.
Through our print, sponsorship, social media and video platforms, we connect with increasingly sophisticated consumers desirous of high-quality news and entertainment content that reflects our mandate to provide creative and informative expression.

About The Best Dressed Chicken

The Best Dressed Chicken is the flagship brand of the Jamaica Broilers Group, one of the most advanced agricultural producers in any developing nation today. The company owes its success not only to a dependency on God’s guidance but also to effective management, an attitude of service and a firm commitment to the goodwill of all stakeholders. Each of the Group’s divisions strives to achieve and surpass international standards of efficiency and quality by utilising state of the art technology throughout each of the production processes.

Our Best Dressed Division is home to:

• The Best Dressed Chicken – the largest and most sophisticated poultry operation in the Caribbean.
• Reggae Jammin’ – pre-seasoned, easy to prepare products prepared with flavourful Jamaican herbs and spices.
• Hamilton’s SmokeHouse – premium smoked deli products.
Jamaica Broilers has been listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange since 1992 and continues to exemplify sophisticated vertical integration in both livestock production and processing, bringing the end result of quality products with international standards.

THE JUDGES
Jo-Anne P. Stephens
Jo-Anne Stephens is an attorney-at-law with an MBA from the University of Oxford. She has a penchant for traveling, new foods and wines. She looks forward to the opportunity to explore new restaurants and to celebrate the culinary creativity and expertise in the Cayman Islands through these awards.
David Stephens
David Stephens is the Managing Director of Apex Perimeter Protection Limited, a division of The Security Centre group. He is a member of Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and recent graduate of the esteemed Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cayman Programme. David enjoys food of all types and is always willing to try new things. Travel, food, and wine are some of his favourite activities. He looks forward to the Cayman Food Awards and wishes to see Cayman recognized as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
Jeremy Stephen Hurst
Jeremy Stephen Hurst is a Broker-Owner of International Realty Group Limited and married to Michelle Hurst, Past District Governor for Rotary International for the Northern Caribbean. Through extensive travel within the Caribbean, he has had the chance to enjoy some of the region’s best restaurants, and looks forward to taking advantage of all that the Cayman culinary scene has to offer.
Richard Barton
Richard Barton is an attorney-at-law and was admitted in the Cayman Islands in 2006. He is also co-owner of two local companies, Premier Valet Limited and The Crescendo Group Limited. Richard is host of the Business Buzz, a business talk show airing on Radio Cayman. He is also a member of the Caymanian Bar Association and the Law Society of England & Wales.
THE JUDGES
Maureen Cubbon
Maureen Cubbon is an award winning chef achieving first place in the Food & Wine Cayman Cookout Amateur Chef Competition in 2013 and was a finalist in 2012, cooking for the likes of Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, Jose Andres and His Excellency the Governor Mr. Duncan Taylor. She currently hosts and runs healthy cooking classes and food focused team building programs for corporate clients, is the Creator & Lead Instructor for the Budding Chef Cooking Classes for kids and is a proud coach for the Youth Services Culinary Team for the annual Cayman Islands Agricultural Show. Maureen co-hosted the Quick & Easy Cooking Show on Daybreak for 2 years and is a member of the Slow Food Group in Cayman.
She has lived in the Cayman Islands for 14 years and is an active member of the local food and wine scene. As a speaker at the TEDx Seven Mile Beach event in April 2013, Maureen is working on sparking a Cayman Style Food Revolution with the goal to empower people, especially children, to know where their food comes from and hopefully inspire everyone to get into their kitchens and cook!
Pamela Small
Pamela Small is the Assistant Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Support at Logic in the Cayman Islands and also a former Miss Cayman title holder. She has 2 daughters who she enjoys spending time with over food, relaxing and eating on the beach. She is honoured to be a part of the Cayman Food Awards and is looking forward to trying some new dishes and of course pizza (her favourite food) during her judging experience.
Alan Markoff
Alan Markoff is a journalist at Pinnacle Media Limited and has become known for his food and wine editorials in publications such as Flava magazine, The Cayman Islands Journal, Grand Cayman Magazine and the Cayman Compass. Since 2008, he has been the leader of Slow Food South Sound, Cayman’s chapter of the international culinary group that promotes the enjoyment of eating in a convivial setting, sustainable food sourcing and the preservation of local food culture. Alan has served as a judge for numerous cocktail competitions, including the multi-event Diageo Reserve World Class competition in Cayman in 2013 and 2014 and looks forward to lending his expertise to the Food Awards.
THE JUDGES
Catherine Guilbard
Catherine Guilbard has lived in the Cayman Islands for the past 36 years. Her family spent over 20 years in the restaurant business having started the first Chinese Restaurant in the Cayman Islands (Golden Pagoda). She is a successful entrepreneur and business coach with a passion for food and wine. She loves nothing better than to dive into a good cookbook or watch FoodTV! She is married to Sebastien Guilbard, and is mom to a daughter of 5 and a son of 11. No surprise that both her children have a well-developed palette!
Sebastien Guilbard
Sebastien Guilbard, born in France, and raised Africa, brings a world of experience from his travels. Sebastien’s multicultural background has expanded his taste in various cuisines. Being raised in the hotel and restaurants industry in France, his passion for food and wine has always been a priority. With a background in property and hotel-restaurant management, he understand the intricacy of the food industry.
Eric Bush
Eric’s professional career has been quite diverse, from Sergeant, to Chief Officer for the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Cayman Islands Government. Eric believes wholeheartedly in giving back to the community in which he lives. This is evidenced by his participation as the Assistant District Governor for the Rotary Clubs of the Cayman Islands, past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cayman Crime Stoppers, and Past Treasurer and Director of the Civil Service Credit Union; Eric the Consummate Caymanian.
Olivia Scott Ramirez
Olivia Scott Ramirez’s passion for travelling has taken her to visit, study, and even live in many countries around the world, including Mexico, London, Hong Kong, Japan, Greece, Egypt, Spain, Israel, Italy and many other countries in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. As the Marketing and Public Relations Manager for Cayman Airways based in the Cayman Islands, she is a frequent visitor of the airline’s many gateway cities in the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America. Whether at home in the Cayman Islands or jetsetting to a new or favourite destination, sampling native dishes is part of the whole cultural experience wherever she goes. Olivia is a member of Cayman’s Slow Food movement and Slow Food International.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is mainly a repeat of the story we ran in yesterday’s iNews Cayman bur now includes additional images.

The Best Dressed Chicken and Jamaica Observer announce Cayman Islands edition of the Table Talk Food Awards

GRAND CAYMAN, March 19, 2015—The Best Dressed Chicken and Jamaica Observer today announced the inaugural staging of the Cayman Islands edition of the Table Talk Food Awards, scheduled to take place on October 16, 2015. The Awards will be adjudicated by an esteemed panel of food and wine professionals and aficionados to recognize excellence in the Cayman food industry and highlight new frontiers of flavour—from famous dining places to unexpected hideaways.

Christopher Levy, President and CEO of Jamaica Broilers Group—whose flagship brand The Best Dressed Chicken is the presenting sponsor—said, “As we seek to strengthen our presence in the Cayman Islands, there really is no better way to underscore our interest and support of the food industry than by presenting The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards. This event has always delivered in a big way as an outstanding food experience, and this is also an important opportunity for us to recognize the considerable talents and efforts of those involved in the Cayman food industry.”

Now in its seventeenth year, The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards is recognized as the most prestigious one-­‐night celebration of food in Jamaica. The distinguished event has long set its sights on recognizing Caribbean culinary talent, having hosted and acknowledged chefs and restaurateurs from around the region. The Cayman Islands is the second Caribbean island outside of Jamaica to host the Awards, following Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.

“Even as we acknowledge the differences in each island, our shared heritage compels us to define one identity for Caribbean cuisine. In many ways this is the mission of The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards and we are delighted that with the support of The Best Dressed Chicken we are able to welcome the Cayman Islands into the fold,” said Novia McDonald Whyte, Senior Associate Editor – Lifestyle and Social Content at Jamaica Observer and Table Talk Food Awards Conceptualiser.

To ensure the event establishes a significant impact, the Cayman Islands edition of The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards has enlisted the expertise of some of the island’s most knowledgeable culinary experts and wine enthusiasts for the judges’ panel. They are: Jo Ann P. Stephens, attorney-­‐at-­‐law; David Stephens, entrepreneur; Jeremy Hurst, international realtor; Richard Barton, attorney-­‐at-­‐law; Maureen Cubbon, chef; Pamela Small, business executive; Alan Markoff, journalist; Catherine Guilbard, entrepreneur; Sebastien Guilbard, restaurateur; Eric Bush, government administrator; and Olivia Scott Ramirez, business executive. The judges will make selections in a wide range of categories including Best Chef and Restaurant of the Year. There will also be the People’s Choice Award to recognize popular food spots, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award to acknowledge a personal legacy of formidable contribution to food in the Cayman Islands.

“The Best Dressed Chicken and Jamaica Observer are without a doubt the very best names in food in Jamaica. The opportunity to bring The Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards to the Cayman Islands means that we will be able to recognise the culinary greats within the industry and applaud their efforts in creating exceptional dining experiences. More significantly, we anticipate that Cayman’s vibrant food culture will embrace this event as their own, leading to further growth in the industry,” said Joan Forrest Henry, Divisional Sales Manager, The Best Dressed Chicken.

About The Best Dressed Chicken
The Best Dressed Chicken is the flagship brand of the Jamaica Broilers Group, one of the most advanced agricultural producers in any developing nation today. The company owes its success not only to a dependency on God’s guidance but also to effective management, an attitude of service and a firm commitment to the goodwill of all stakeholders. Each of the Group’s divisions strives to achieve and surpass international standards of efficiency and quality by utilising state of the art technology throughout each of the production processes.
Our Best Dressed Division is home to:
� • The Best Dressed Chicken – the largest and most sophisticated poultry operation in the
Caribbean.
� • Reggae Jammin’ – pre-­‐seasoned, easy to prepare products prepared with flavourful Jamaican herbs and spices.
� Hamilton’s Smoke House – premium smoked deli products.
Jamaica Broilers has been listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange since 1992 and continues to exemplify sophisticated vertical integration in both livestock production and processing, bringing the end result of quality products with international standards.

About Jamaica Observer
Jamaica Observer aims to deliver cutting-­‐edge journalism to a local and international audience that we acknowledge to be constantly evolving. Through our print, sponsorship, social media and video platforms, we connect with increasingly sophisticated consumers desirous of high quality news and entertainment content that reflects our mandate to provide creative and informative expression.
See also iNews Cayman story published March 22 2015 “Cayman Islands edition of the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards launched” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/cayman-islands-edition-of-the-jamaica-observer-table-talk-food-awards-launched/