67
Community spirit and culinary pride were on full display at Queen’s Park, The City, on Friday evening as home cooks from across Barbados gathered for the inaugural Barbados Food and Rum Simplex Trading Community Cook-Off Finals, competing for the title of top community chef.
Heather Aimes’ winning dish of cornmeal cou-cou, steamed fish, pickled cucumber, tomatoes and sweet potatoes.
After a heated and flavour-packed showdown, with a dish that beautifully represented Barbadian authenticity, Heather Aimes of St Joseph rose to victory, winning over the judges with her expertly prepared cornmeal cou-cou, steamed fish, pickled cucumber, tomatoes and sweet potatoes for the $7 500 cash prize.
The competition, staged as part of the 2025 Barbados Food and Rum Festival, featured six talented cooks representing parishes from St George to St Lucy. Each competitor brought their own twist to traditional Bajan cuisine, from fried flying fish stuffed with sweet plantain and spinach by Chade Marshall of St George to Bajan spiced beer-battered flying fish with garlicky sauce and cou-cou by Sade Clarke of St Thomas.
Second place went to Sarah Hoppie from St Andrew, while Chade Marshall of St George placed third. They won $5 000 and $2 500, respectively.
Executive Chef Henderson Butcher, who leads the culinary direction for the 2025 Barbados Food and Rum Festival, shared his enthusiasm for what the cook-off represented.
St Lucy’s Samatha Harris and her assistant during the finals.
“I am really happy that this event has brought the communities of Barbados together,” Butcher said. “With everything going on around us, I believe this is something we truly need as something that unites us. I am enjoying the fact that the ladies are doing such a wonderful job. Some of the things they are doing here, even professional chefs would hesitate to do.”
You Might Be Interested In
He added that the competition reflected the true essence of Barbadian food culture.
“This is a great venture, and I really want to see it continue because it helps to build our communities and make us stronger. This is who we are in Barbados.”
For winner Heather Aimes, the victory “felt great”.
“The rules said you have to make a traditional dish, and what is more traditional than cou-cou? Even though I was not expecting to win, it is a great feeling,” she said.
A section of the crowd gathered at Queens Park.
As the festival continues to spotlight the best of Barbadian food and culture, the Community Cook-Off has already proven itself a highlight by celebrating the everyday cooks who make Barbados taste like home. (DT)
