Carrie Bogar of Veya Restaurant has emerged as the winner of the first Chef Cook off held by the Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute at Veya Restaurant last Sunday evening. His Excellency Governor Alistair Harrison and Mrs Harrison were among the enthusiastic supporters who filled the restaurant in Sandy Ground to capacity for the event.

Chef Carrie Bogar with students of the Omololu Institute Pierson Bogar, daughter (centre)

The innovative fundraiser, which raised around six thousand US dollars, showcased four chefs, three of whom were parents of children of the Institute, and a mystery chef. Participating chefs were given the opportunity to select their ingredients from a mystery basket which had been put together by another local chef, and plan, prepare and cook their dish within one hour. The four chefs who took up the challenge were Daniel LeGuenan of the Cuisinart Resort and Spa, Carrie Bogar and Laureen Perkins of Veya Restaurant and mystery chef Kirk Russell. Judging of the competition was done independently by each of the attendees who tasted the food produced by the chefs at the four different stations and then used their entry ticket as a ballot.

Throughout the evening patrons enjoyed complimentary wine which had been donated by generous sponsors and hors d’oeuvres which had been prepared earlier by the competitors and chef Joy Jessup of the Cap Juluca Hotel. After His Excellency Governor Harrison had announced the winner, patrons received another treat in the form of desserts catered by Pascal Baronnier of Cuisinart and Jean Letang of Viceroy. Another interesting feature of the multifaceted evening was the preview of a video on the Institute produced by Eye TV. The unforgettable evening ended with an opportunity for everyone to get on the dance floor to enjoy irresistible music played by DJ Marvellous Marvin.

The Omololu Institute would like to thank sponsors Cuisinart Resort and Spa, Cap Juluca Resort and Spa, Veya Restaurant, Luna Rosa, Straw Hat Restaurant, Trattaria Tramanto, Picante, Cote Mer, Smokeys, Best Buy Supermarket, Superior Sanitary Supplies and Webster Dyrud Mitchell law firm. Some parents who went out of their way to make the event successful were Mark and Sally Baumwell, Penny and Malcolm Hope-Ross, Myrna Sepersaud, Susan Baronnier, Chitra Badal, Michelle Sawkins, Robyn Ottovainen, Mark Connor, Jerry Bogar, and Valerie Zaharia, while children helpers included Logan and Conner Whitlock, Arielle Isedenu , Tobie Bloom, Sunrae Liburd Banks, Sunzara Liburd Banks, Judah Liburd Banks, Janice Perkins, Pierson Bogar, Kyiv Edwards, Wanda Munoz-Woolard, and Whitney Duggins. Omololu would also like to express gratitude to the attendees of the first Omololu Iron Chef Cook Off who indicated that the evening was both enjoyable and memorable!

The Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute, which was founded in 1994 by Dr Oluwakemi Linda Banks, was named in honour of her sister, Tr. Gloria Banks Harrigan, a beloved teacher and cultural icon who died tragically in 1987. Omololu has a proven track record of almost fifteen years of successful education and is open to the children of all residents of Anguilla with abilities ranging from special needs to gifted. Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute has embarked on a mission to build a permanent home for the school, a centre that focuses on the holistic needs of all children in the community.
- Press Release

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