The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) is a proud sponsor at the 19th Annual Citi Taste of Tennis, in New York City, on Thursday, August 23, 2018.  This event will kick off an exciting summer of tennis in New York City. The event will feature signature cuisines from the city’s leading chefs, as well as appearances by popular tennis stars. The event also serves as a fundraiser for Wellness in the Schools, a charitable foundation which promotes healthy eating, environmental awareness, and fitness as a way of life for kids in public schools. 

“We were afforded the opportunity to become a sponsor of this exclusive event, which caters to our target market, and so we jumped at the chance to showcase our local chefs and position the BVI as a destination for culinary travel.  As a sponsor, our business development team will be sharing BVI collateral with event patrons and promoting our culinary events such as the BVI Food Fete in November,” explained Director of Tourism Sharon Flax Brutus.

The featured BVI chefs are top local Chef Kenneth (Ken) Molyneaux, and his young protégé Chef Brentfield (Brent) Lettsome. These BVI Chefs will be serving up bite-sized BVI dishes to approximately 800 attendees at this exclusive event.  

Chef Kenneth Molyneaux a native of the British Virgin Islands, got his first lessons in cooking from his mother, a well-respected local cook. He eventually went on to study Culinary Arts at the New England Culinary Institute where he developed his own unique style and flair, graduating with honours at the top of his class.

Over the years, Chef Ken sharpened his skills as he pursued his career at many leading hotels in the British Virgin Islands as well as stints as guest chef at hospitality venues including Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island and the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis, Maryland.

Chef Ken has successfully captained the BVI National Culinary Team since 2007, winning several medals.  In 2017, Chef Ken was named Chef of the Year at the 2017 Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition. He also won a gold medal at the Certified Angus Beef Competition.  For his success in the competition, Chef Ken participated in the Certified Angus Beef Chef tour in Amarillo, Texas, in April.  He was selected as a judge at this year’s competition. 

Chef Ken is the proud owner of Tropical Fusion Beach Bar & Grill located in Long Bay, Tortola.

Chef Brentfield Lettsome’s love of the kitchen was also sparked by his mother at the tender age of six, when he began to help her prepare family meals. Now Brentfield is preparing some of the Caribbean’s most exotic cuisines. He graduated valedictorian of the 2010 Culinary Programme at the Technical and Vocational Education Training Program at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in the BVI.  Chef Brent was a Junior Chef on the 2011 gold medal winning BVI Culinary Team at the Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition in Miami, Florida.

After working at the YCCS Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda, the Treasure Isle Hotel and Tropical Fusion Beach Bar and Grill in Tortola, Brent spread his culinary wings to New York, deciding to relocate after Hurricane Irma.

Chef Brent is currently a Lead Line Chef at Penelope NYC, a popular café, bar and bakery in New York City, after a stint as line chef at The Fat Monk Restaurant, a gastropub operated by celebrity chef, Rob McCue.   

The duo is excited about this opportunity to collaborate and work with the BVI Tourist Board in promoting the Territory through the culinary arts at Citi Taste of Tennis.