Meet the Team Taking St. Maarten / St. Martin to Taste of the Caribbean

The SHTA mixer at Kooyman was a night to remember. It was there that the binational St. Maarten / St. Martin team heading to Taste of the Caribbean 2026 in Barbados was officially revealed, and the room was buzzing. Many SHTA members came out to welcome the team and celebrate the announcement.

Meet the lineup: Senior Chef Jewel Daal, Pastry Chef Djaya Coupey, Junior Chef Jamal Dormoy and Bartender Erion Peterson, guided by coach Renata de Weever, who knows the competition well as a Taste 2017 veteran. It’s the first time the island sends a team since 2017, and with the competition now smaller and more agile, every member counts.

The evening was also a tasting ground. Erion presented his three cocktail entries to the guests, and the feedback from SHTA members and other attendees will help him perfect the drinks before the big day. Tourism representatives Aida Weinum (Office de Tourisme) and May-Ling Chun (St. Maarten Tourism Bureau) were there to cheer the team on.

Jewel summed up the team’s mission: to highlight the island’s gastronomic traditions, flavors, creativity and diversity. With both sides of the island united behind one team, the ambition is clear.

From left to right: Chef Jewel Daal, Bartender Erion Peterson, Pastry Chef Djaya Coupey, Junior Chef Jamal Dormoy, and Team Coach Renata de Weever.