Mathayom Vacharat of St. John Catering took top honors among a group of seven vying for the “Ultimate Chef” title in a cooking competition whose sponsors include Banco Popuar and the V.I. Source.
Vacharat and competitors were given a "mystery box" of ingredients and 60 minutes to whip up a main course for review by a panel of judges. His winning entry featured a pan seared chicken breast with honey, papaya, and potato pancakes stuffed with plantain and papaya mash, according tp a report by the Virgin Islands Daily News.
Vacharat's victory brought him $1,000, a gift basket from a restaurant supply company and, perhaps most importantly, bragging rights to the title.
The V.I. Department of Agriculture was also among the sponsors of the event, part of the St. Thomas Carnival Cultural Fair. The theme was “Virgin Fresh," meant to highlight locally grown vegetables, fruits, juices, herbs, spices and meats.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!