Simmone Edwin dominates Maggi Food Court with passion and class
Chef to focus on teaching youth culinary arts
Published:Thursday | October 27, 2022 | 12:05 AM
Simmone Edwin, the food enthusiast, culinary mastermind, and lover of all Caribbean flavours, can now add Maggi Food Court Caribbean 2022 champion to her accolades.
Edwin, who hails from the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago, secured the winning title and the US$10,000 cash prize when she went up against Ricardo Hepkins, the talented and charming Jamaican chef who spends his days creating culinary masterpieces at Broken Plate.
The win was especially dear to Edwin as she was eliminated earlier in the competition and brought back on a technicality. She secured a place in the semi-finals after two chefs failed to matriculate as the jurors found their meals wanting.
Not to be outdone, Chef Edwin, who has been cooking for the last 13 years, was determined to bring her A game. It was obvious that she was indeed in it to win it.
“My game plan when I was brought back was to simply focus on the techniques that I learnt throughout my career. You can’t beat a great technique. And when you couple that with my creativity, I knew my competitors would have to come really good to beat me,” Edwin shared with a confident and satisfied smile.
THE WINNING BATTLE
In 90 minutes, the finalists were to create a five-course meal with a twist. The Maggi Coconut Milk was supposed to be the star of each course. Understanding that this was challenge, judge Jerron ‘Jeronimo’ Green allowed each competitor to partner with another chef from the competition. Edwin chose Marcella Evans-Ingram from The Bahamas, and Hepkins picked Rishi Ramoutar from Trinidad.
The kitchen was a battlefield but one that seemed inviting as the Caribbean flavours permeated the air, pulling all olfactory cells. The teams gelled together perfectly, and there seemed to be some form of unison even though it was a competition.
The jurors were extremely impressed with both teams at the end of the competition. Chef Brian Lumley spoke of the talent and execution of the dishes in terms of presentation and creativity. Ockino Petrie also spoke of the display of talent throughout the competition and praised the show for highlighting the culinary skills and personalities of the Caribbean.
After being selected as the winner of the competition, Edwin was overcome with emotions.
“It was an overwhelming sensation of gratitude, pride, relief, and happiness all balled into one. All I could do was to hug Marcella, my sous chef, and rejoice that I had accomplished a difficult task.”
For her, it was a feeling of accomplishment, and it showed that something she took so much pleasure in was recognised and appreciated.
Throughout the competition, it was evident that it was more than a cooking challenge for the chef. With the title and well-deserved cash prize, she will move on to teaching and finding ways to connect with the youth who want to pursue culinary arts as a career.
“My love for satisfying people with a hearty meal is what keeps me motivated. I believe that food is the greatest connector of people on the planet, and sharing in that is powerful,” said Edwin.