Thirteen Bermuda College culinary students left the island to travel to Chicago to attend a restaurant exhibition.
A spokesperson said, “They will attend the National Restaurant Association Show at the McCormick Centre, which highlights the latest in restaurant techniques, tools, and technology. They will get to sample the food on display, attend workshops, and experience the sights and sounds of the huge exhibition.”
Dr. Teneika Eve, a senior lecturer at the College and chairwoman of the faculty association within the Division of Business, Hospitality, and Technical Education, said, “For a young culinary mind, it’s a really amazing experience. They are going to walk the floor. Now, if you can imagine, the McCormick Centre is three stories high—the size of a football field—so it is huge, and we will be there for a couple of days.
“For the students, it’s going to be like, ‘did you see that technology? Did you see that machine? Did you get to taste this new product?’ It will open up their minds as to what’s outside Bermuda and what’s coming down the pipeline.”
The spokesperson said, “In addition to the exhibition, the itinerary also includes a walking food tour of Chicago’s Chinatown.”
Dr. Eve said, “The whole trip is about experiences—about opening the students’ minds, seeing what else is out there. I am very excited for them.”
Javontai Bailey, one of the students going, said, “I want to be able to enjoy the environment, be able to see different things, be able to see what Chicago is like, enjoy the scenery and the different types of food.
“It’s my first time going to Chicago so I really want to experience as much as I can and take it all in.”
Another student, Kalen Jones, said, “I’m looking forward to the NRA food show because I get to experience all the latest technology and the innovations that are coming to the culinary world.”
Dr. Eve said, “While the Ministry of Education had provided a $5,000 grant, for the last nine months the students have raised more than $40,000 to fund the trip by holding different events.
“They have done an incredible job to raise that amount of money. They’ve been working really hard, and we’ve raised enough money to pay for a hotel, plane tickets, registration for the show, a walking food tour, and transportation.”
She thanked Lindo’s in Devonshire for allowing the students to hold bake sales on their premises.
Dr. Eve said, “I am very proud of them, and I know this trip will be of enormous benefit.”
The spokesperson said, “The students going are Amir Squire-Harvey; Amaria Brangman-Johnson; Candice Cox; Charlize Simms-James; Christianna Warren; Javontai Bailey; Jelani Simons; Kalen Jones; Keoni Fishenden; Raiden Peets; Unaiah Ball; Rip Crockwell-Laurent; and Kiana Greenridge.”
