The BVI Seventh-day Adventist School was among the schools tasting sweet victory in the Dessert Competition for Secondary Schools held at the Department of Agriculture’s grounds in Paraquita Bay on April 30, 2021. Photo: Team of Reporters

The winning team in the Cake Category consisted Solani John and Omari Hurst, who made Coconut Passion Fruit Cup Cakes. Photo: Team of Reporters

Loren Baptiste and Denisha Whyte made Pina Colada Cake and placed second in the Team Cake Category. Photo: Team of Reporters

Coconut Keylime Pie made by Seon McCall and Jaheem Isaac. They placed third. Photo: Team of Reporters

Judging the Dessert Competition for Secondary Schools held at the Department of Agriculture’s grounds in Paraquita Bay on April 30, 2021. Photo: GIS

SDA School shines

The private Christian school, which ironically does not have a Home Economics facility but, under the guidance of 2017 Gen-Y Factor winner Shauna-Kay Miller, is the only school that will be putting forward Home Economics students for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), captured first and second places in the Team Cake category.

The winning team consisted Solani John and Omari Hurst, who made Coconut Passion Fruit Cup Cakes while the second-placed team consisted Loren Baptiste and Denisha Whyte, who made Pina Colada Cake.

The school also placed third in the Team Pie competition and won a prize for having the most participants in the Dessert Competition.

Cedar International & Ciboney Centre for Excellence also among winners

The prize for Best Individual Cake was awarded to Johannes Blok of Cedar International School while the best pie award was given to Benjamin Moore of Ciboney Centre for Excellence.

Mikayla Smith of Ciboney Centre for Excellence took home the prize for best individual cookie/ dessert bar.

Other schools in the competition held as part of the activities in observance of Farmers and Fishers’ Week 2021, were Elmore Stoutt High School, the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, St George’s Secondary School and Claudia Creque Educational Centre.

According to a press release from Government Information Services, all participants were required to incorporate coconut in their desserts that were judged on aroma, texture/consistency, flavour and appearance/creativity. Videos and posters of the students preparing their desserts also factored into the students’ overall score.

Prizes were then awarded in three different categories: cakes, pies, and cookies/dessert bars.

‘Dessert competitions were extremely important’- Dr the Hon Wheatley

Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture pointed to the connection between the competitions and the VI hospitality industry.

The Minister said: “The dessert competitions were extremely important because there is great potential for our local agriculture and fishing industry to be linked to our hospitality industry. Our locals and visitors alike enjoy eating out, and using locally grown and caught food greatly enhances and highlights the uniqueness of our culinary experience.”

Mia McMaster, Kacie Smith & Ashley Brown win among HLSCC students

A second dessert competition was held at Exhibition and Market Day on Saturday, May 1 for students at the tertiary level.

The students, all of whom attend the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, were also required to incorporate coconut into every dessert. Best cake at this level was awarded to Mia McMaster, while best pie went to Kacie Smith and Ashley Brown secured the prize for best cookie/dessert bar.

Mrs Carolyn E. Stoutt Igwe, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture said the decision to hold the dessert competition was a means of getting students involved in the week of activities to commemorate Farmers and Fishers’ Week.

Mrs Igwe said, “The coconut was selected because of its versatility. We wanted to feature a local fruit as the main ingredient for the desserts to provide some context for the students.  I was very pleased with the level of creativity and enthusiasm displayed among the students and the quality of their presentations.”