The 'Making the Cutt' culinary competition in Trinidad and Tobago will take place on January 10 and 17, 2016, to select participants for the national culinary team representing the country at the 'Taste of the Caribbean' competition. Chefs, junior chefs, pastry chefs, and bartenders are invited to compete, with specific criteria and submission deadlines established. Participants must register by January 7, 2016, with a fee of TT$400, and show the ability to use local ingredients and demonstrate culinary and mixology skills.

1. Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute
Airway Road, Chaguaramas
Trinidad Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association
Presents:
Making the CUTT
The Ultimate Culinary Competition of Trinidad & Tobago
KEY DATES:
Sunday 10th January 2016 – Preliminaries (Chefs, Junior Chefs & Bartenders)
Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre
Lady Young Road, Port of Spain
Sunday 17th January 2016 – Final CUTT
Trinidad & Tobago Hotel and Tourism Institute (TTHTI)
Chaguaramas
The winners of Making the CUTT will form the Trinidad & Tobago National Culinary
Team that will represent the country at the 24th Annual “Taste of the Caribbean”
International Culinary Competition which will be held in June 2016 in Miami, Florida.
‘Taste of the Caribbean’ is produced by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
(CHTA).

2. Registration information
The Making the CUTT Culinary Competition is open to chefs, junior chefs, pastry chefs
and bartenders. For a participant to be considered registered for the competition, they
must submit all of the following requirements:
• Completed Registration Form
• Payment or Proof of payment
• Recipes (for pastry chef and bartender entrants)
Entrants’ Criteria
Chef: Anyone professionally employed in food production with a minimum of three
years’ experience.
Junior Chef: An individual working and/or studying in the culinary field that is not older
than 22 years of age before June 2016.
NOTE: Chefs must currently hold a position/classification/title that is below “Sous
Chef”.
Pastry Chef: Anyone professionally employed in food production with a minimum of
three years’ experience.
Bartender: Anyone professionally employed who mixes and serves alcoholic drinks
at a bar with a minimum of two years’ experience.

3. KEY INFORMATION
Registration Fee: TT$400.00 per registrant
Deadline for submission of Registration Information: Thursday 7th January 2016
Completed registration forms, payment and recipes can be submitted at the
following locations throughout Trinidad & Tobago:
Trinidad Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association
Located at: Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute
Airway Road, Chaguaramas
(Tel: 634-1174/5)
Cara Suites Hotel & Conference Centre
Southern Main Road, Claxton Bay
(Tel: 659-2271)
(Attention: Mr. Hassel Thom, General Manager)
Kapok Hotel
16-18 Cotton Hill, St. Clair
(Tel: 622-6441)
(Attention: Ms. Nezelle Clarke-Ashby, Executive Assistant)
Tobago Hotel & Tourism Association, Apt. 1 Lambeau Credit Union Bldg.,
Auchenskeoch Road, Carnbee, Tobago
(Tel: 639-9543)
(Attention: Ms. Lana Drysdale, Office Manager)

4. All entrants must possess a valid (machine-readable) Trinidad and Tobago
Passport and be eligible for a US Visa
Chefs, Junior Chefs and Pastry Chefs must have a valid food badges
Making the CUTT Competition
A preliminary competition will be held on Sunday 10th January 2016 from which:
Ten (10) Chefs and Five (5) Junior Chefs will be selected to compete in the Finals
which will be held on Sunday 17th January 2016 at the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality
and Tourism Institute (TTHTI), Chaguaramas.
Fifteen (15) Bartenders will be selected to compete in the finals which will be held on
Sunday 17th January 2016 at the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute,
Chaguaramas.
Ten (10) Pastry Chefs will be selected to compete in the finals which will be held on
Sunday 17th January 2016 at the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute,
Chaguaramas.

5. PRELIMINARY COMPETITION FORMAT
Chef and Junior Chef Preliminaries
Each chef will be given forty-five (45) minutes in which to prepare four (4) plates of
an entrée dish. Only items in the mystery basket must be used. There will be a
community table with basic ingredients such as salt, seasonings etc. available to chefs.
All competitors must leave their stations clean in readiness for the next competitor
Bartender Preliminaries
Bartenders would draw to put their innovative and contemporary “spin” on two classic
cocktails from the following list:
1. Rum Old Fashioned
2. Daiquiri
3. Rum Swizzle
4. Negroni
5. Sazerac
6. Cosmopolitan
7. Mai Tai
8. Side Car
9. Zombie
10.Traditional Pina Colada

6. FINAL COMPETITION FORMAT
Chef & Junior Chef Competitions
• Competitors will compete on an individual basis
• All competitors must be in the work area thirty (30) minutes before their
appointed start time
• All chefs/pastry chefs/junior chefs must dress in full professional Chef Uniform
including hat, apron
• Chefs/Junior Chef/Pastry Chefs/Bartenders must leave their work areas clean
after their service, in readiness for the next competitor
• The organizers will provide basic kitchen equipment such as, stoves, oven
access and sanitation equipment
• Competition Order will be determined by blind-drawing prior to the event
• All Chefs and Junior Chefs has to use Angostura Aromatic Bitters in at least one
of their dishes.
Each chef will be given one hour of preparation time in which to write and submit a
description of their entrée dish, to do mis en place and get organized (only stocks can
be cooked during the 1st hour). Cooking, finishing and plating are to take place during
the second hour. You must be completely plated by the end of the second (2nd) hour.
At the assigned time, the competing chef will be given a mystery basket containing
ALL the ingredients necessary for them to produce a dish. Ingredients in the mystery
basket must be used in whole or in part.
The competing chef must prepare and finish four (4) plates within the time allotted.
Chefs are allowed to bring their own plates for presentation. The four (4) plates must
be presented at the same time, no earlier than 1 minute before the end time and no
later than 5 minutes after the finish time. Any time after the assigned finish time will
count towards a 1 minute per point penalty. After 5 minutes overtime the dish will be
disqualified. You can bring and use small ramekins or accent pieces if you wish.

7. Points Distribution (Chefs & Junior Chefs)
Chefs will be judged on creativity, culinary skills, sanitation practices and
Caribbean flavor.
Points distribution – Tasting
Presentation 10 points
Creativity 10 points
Caribbean identity and ingredients 15 points
Taste/Texture/Flavor balance 30 points
Total 65 points
Points distribution – Kitchen Mis en place
Mis en place – culinary skills 5 points
Proper use of ingredients 5 points
Organization & timeliness 5 points
Total 15 points
Points distribution – Floor/Cooking Station
Culinary skills and cooking technique 10 points
Organization and Timing 5 points
Sanitation and Station Cleanliness (post cooking) 5 points
Total 20 points
Maximum Points 100 points

8. Bartender Competition
1. A recipe for drinks to be entered in rum and vodka categories must be
submitted at the time of the application or no later than Thursday 7th January
2016.
2. For the Vodka competition, the cocktail presented must be a culinary cocktail; a
cocktail that includes fruits and or vegetables as a key element of its
composition.
3. Spirits and liqueurs for the rum and vodka categories will be provided by the
THRTA’s Sponsors. All other ingredients must be provided by the competitor.
4. Each Bartender must produce two glasses of each drink. While “less is more”
there is no restriction on amount of ingredients used. Those who wish may plan
and make their own ice.
5. All bar equipment to be provided by the competitor (glassware, tools).
6. Bartenders will operate from a banquet table.
7. Contestants will draw for start times on the day and these turns will rotate at
each competition.
8. Each bartender will be given five (5) minutes to prepare each drink.
9. Bartenders will compete three at a time in each category.
10.First category will be Rum; second will be Vodka.
11.The finals will be a MYSTERY BAR. Five competitors will be selected to
compete in this round. The participant will be allowed twenty (20) minutes to
review the contents of a mystery bar, design a drink, write the recipe. The
participant will then have ten (10) minutes to produce the drink/garnish for the
judges. Two glasses must be produced.
12.Basic bar preparations such as garnishes (must be edible) can be done prior to
the competition for the rum and vodka categories and brought with the
contestant; except in the finals, when the garnish must be prepared within the
ten (10) minutes allotted for the preparation of the drink.
13.All Bartenders has to use Angostura Aromatic Bitters in at least one drink.

9. Points Distribution (Bartenders)
As an educational competition, the bartenders will be judged on:
Name, originality and creativity – 15 points
• How creative with the use of local ingredients, developing a name that “sells”
the cocktail concept – how original is it all?
Timing, method, neatness – 20 points
• Hygiene – the use of gloves is no longer required. With the marked
improvement of bartending skills, bartender may work with their hands as long
as they wash these, on stage, in front of the judges and general public. Hygiene
and safety will still be evaluated; sloppiness and a messy bar or workstation will
cost points; excessive use of fire, will cost points. How professional is the
bartenders use of his tools and mixology techniques?
Visual appeal and presentation – 15 points
• The visual of the cocktail, do you have a decoration or a garnish? The ritual of
presentation and the look and attitude of the bartender will be evaluated
Aroma, taste and balance – 40 points
• Do the combines ingredients work (example: citrus and cream separates), is
there an enticing aroma, is the flavor balanced, not too sweet.
Use of Caribbean ingredients 10 points
Bartenders are encouraged to adopt any of (or combination of) the following classic
mixology techniques:
*Stirring *Shaking *Straining
*Muddling *Building *Layering *Flaming
No such additional points will be awarded for blending.
Maximum Points 100 points

10. Pastry Chef Competition
1. All Pastry Chefs will compete in a 4 hour competition.
2. Each Pastry Chef entering must submit a dessert recipe with their registration
entry. Recipes will be in eight (8) portion.
3. Pastry chefs must bring their own plates for presentation of their dessert.
4. All desserts will be presented and served at the same time. If one whole dessert
is produced such as a gateau, one portion must be cut and plated.
5. Desserts will be displayed to the public.
Accuracy of Recipe
Ingredients balanced in size and amounts 10 points
Portion Size 10 points
Cost Effective use of materials
Cooking skills/Culinary techniques
Skills, Technique and Craftsmanship 20 points
Sanitation/ Organization/Accuracy 10 points
Creativity 10 points
Total 40 points
Taste/Presentation
Flavor, texture and taste 15 points
Use of indigenous ingredients 10 points
Presentation 15 points
Total 40 points
Maximum Points 100 points

11. Disclaimer:
The Trinidad Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) reserves the right to
modify the rules and guidelines for this competition. The THRTA further reserves the
right to reproduce, publish or broadcast any recipe entered in the competition.
Judges decisions are final.
Medals Criteria
Gold: 100 – 90 points
Silver: 89.9 – 80 points
Bronze: 79.9 – 70 points
Special Awards
Most Creative Menu – Chefs
Most Creative Menu – Junior Chefs
Most Creative Dessert – Pastry Chefs
Best Rum Drink and Best Vodka Drink – Bartenders