A young culinary talent from Antigua and Barbuda has earned a coveted spot in one of the region’s most promising youth hospitality training programs, marking a key step forward for the 2026 iteration of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy.
Justine Griffin, a student at Sir McChesney George Secondary School, has been officially introduced as the eighth participant selected for the academy. Over the coming five weeks, she will complete a structured culinary internship at the acclaimed Galley Bay Resort and Spa, where she will work directly under the mentorship of the resort’s experienced Executive Chef Guven Uyanik.
The internship period is scheduled to run from July 13 through August 21, giving Griffin more than a month of immersive, on-the-job learning in a fast-paced professional kitchen environment. During this time, she will not only refine her existing cooking techniques but also gain first-hand insight into kitchen operations, food safety standards, and customer service that can only be learned through hands-on practice, all while receiving guidance from seasoned culinary and hospitality professionals.
The program will wrap up with a high-stakes showcase of the participants’ newly honed skills: a public cook-off competition set to take place between August 25 and 28. This competitive event will be followed by an official closing ceremony on September 3, where achievements will be celebrated and awards will be presented.
At the end of the entire program, one standout participant will be crowned the academy’s Top Junior Chef. This title comes with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the winner will earn the right to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the 2027 Junior Lit’l Chef Camp hosted in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This international opportunity is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the academy’s organizers and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.
Program organizers have emphasized that the core mission of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy extends far beyond a single cooking competition. The initiative was created specifically to identify and nurture emerging young culinary talent from local secondary schools, giving participating students access to structured practical training that is rarely available to young learners outside of post-secondary education. It also exposes students to the wide range of career pathways available in the thriving hospitality and tourism sector, a core pillar of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy.
The 2026 edition of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy is jointly presented by three supporting partners: the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, the Ted Isaac Family, and Global Ports Holding, which operates Antigua Cruise Port.