Maggi Food Court brings Caribbean heat

The first season of Maggi Food Court competition whetted the appetites of many and left them hankering for more. Locals were treated to a flavourful 30-minute show where chefs with varying skill sets and colourful personalities battled for the top spot in the competition. The organisers decided to add a little more spice for the second season by expanding it to include competitors from across the region.

According to Ockino Petrie, business executive officer, Nestlé Caribbean, “The Caribbean is a melting pot of cultures and this has influenced their dishes in aesthetics as well as taste. It was actually a no-brainer to incorporate our neighbours to bring a little more heat in the kitchen.”

Through social media as well as mainstream media, chefs from across the Caribbean were invited to become a part of the thrilling experience. Each registrant had to be representative of a restaurant or cookshop based in the Caribbean and be over 18 years old.

The team travelled to several islands where they got to experience different cuisines while being charmed by the natives.

FULFILLING EXPERIENCE

At end of the tour, the team was satisfied with the evidence gathered and summons were served to all contestants who were to visit Jamaica for the competition.

“We are very excited to showcase the talent we discovered in the Caribbean. It was a fulfilling experience because we met people who did not merely prepare meals but persons who cooked with heart, soul and perfected it with Maggi,” Petrie shared.

Case files are ready, jurors chosen and the stage set for the biggest culinary showdown across the Caribbean. Sixteen chefs will face off in the Maggi Food Court for the coveted title and cash prize of US$10,000.

Families, friends and co-workers gave riveting testimonies and character references for the competitors. Each chef also shared their ambitions and aspirations as well as just how important it was to be a part of an enriching and fulfilling experience.

The innovative format of the competition proved to boost the entertainment value of the show. Competitors are brought into an open court where they are judged by their peers as they create dishes given to them by the presiding ‘foodie judge’.

This season’s esteemed judge is the culinary mastermind Jerron ‘Jeronimo’ Green, whose whole life revolves around food. He has seen, heard and tasted it all, having travelled across the globe, sharing in and experiencing different cultures.

Green is joined by his jurors Natasha De Boug, also known as “The Classy Chef”, who has travelled the world for the love of food, Brian Lumley, known for his talent and expertise across the region, and Ockino Petrie, who has responsibility for Maggi across the region.

The programme will be aired on TVJ at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays across the Caribbean and on all MAGGI digital platforms for nine weeks. The contestants will be preparing local meals influenced by cultural themes presented by the producers.