Master of the Crafts 2023 is a yearly culinary and beverage competition created to encourage creativity and innovation, spotlighting outstanding chefs and bartenders from Marriott Bonvoy hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
The competition brings great experience and exposure, as the winner will be able to advance to Regionals and lastly to Internationals wherein he or she can compete with other winners from their respective region and winners from other countries like Canada. Last June 12, 2023, cooks, bartenders and even the interns of The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island were encouraged to join the competition. It is a competition wherein they need to create a dish with one secret ingredient using the limited ingredients the organizer prepared in just 30 minutes. For the first in The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island history, an intern won the competition; she was a 4th year culinary student of the School of International and Hospitality Management who had her International On-The-Job Training at the The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island.
Ma. Ellena Bunoan didn’t think that she could actually win the competition, as she was very nervous and hesitant at first but with the encouragement and support from her friends, co-interns, co-workers and chefs, she was able to present a dish that their executive sous chef at that time will be honored to present in one of the hotel’s restaurants. Because of this competition, she was able to compete for the Master of the Crafts 2023 Regional in Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee Florida and was able to meet amazing cooks and chefs.
“It was a great and cherished experience, it helped me to know my capacity, nurture my skills, challenge myself, and know that I can actually do it in that limited time. All I can say (is), if an opportunity arises, just grab (it) and do it. No matter (what) the results are, tap your back and say ‘you did a great great job self, Congratulations’!”
– Ma. Ellena Magdalena Bunoan
Written by Ma. Ellena Magdalena Bunoan
