Two standout culinary professionals from Antigua and Barbuda have earned widespread acclaim from the islands’ leading hospitality industry body after bringing local food culture to one of the United Kingdom’s most-watched cooking competition shows. The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has issued official congratulations to Eustace Cabral Jr., head chef at the luxury Jumby Bay Island Resort, and Maurine Bowers of Moon Gate Antigua, following their feature appearance during the high-profile Finals Week of BBC MasterChef UK.
The landmark episode premiered June 3 on mainstream UK network BBC One, with additional streaming access available on the BBC iPlayer platform, bringing the vibrant flavors and rich culinary heritage of Antigua and Barbuda directly to millions of viewers across the UK and international audiences tuning in from around the globe. The production took the competition on-location to the islands, giving the MasterChef finalists an immersive hands-on experience with Antiguan and Barbudan cooking traditions.
During their segments, Bowers led the competing finalists through the step-by-step preparation of iconic, generations-old Antiguan dishes against the scenic backdrop of Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage site and major tourist draw. For his challenge, Cabral tasked the contestants with replicating his signature modern cuisine, which draws deep inspiration from classic Caribbean flavor profiles, at the elegant Jumby Bay Estate House.
Beyond their high-profile television appearance, ABHTA highlighted the longstanding contributions both chefs have made to growing the nation’s tourism sector and nurturing the next generation of culinary talent. Both professionals have served as trusted mentors and judges for the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Competition, an initiative designed to cultivate young local cooking skill, and they also represent Antigua and Barbuda as active members of the country’s national culinary team.
The industry association also extended praise to the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority for its work in securing the game-changing opportunity to showcase the islands’ food culture, natural beauty, and homegrown culinary expertise to a global audience on such a respected international platform. ABHTA framed the chefs’ MasterChef feature as both a remarkable personal career milestone for the two culinary leaders and a transformative promotional chance to position Antigua and Barbuda as a world-class must-visit culinary tourism destination.