The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) Festival of Foods Western Regional Finals will kick off on Friday, June 7 at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Westmoreland starting at 10:00 a.m. This competition celebrates the culinary creativity of Jamaicans, while allowing participants to showcase and sharpen their culinary skills.

The competition is open to children, schools, institutions and youth & community groups and accepts entries in the categories of main dishes, dessert, wedding cakes, batters & dough among many others. The competition places special emphasis on the use of locally grown agricultural products to create tantalizing and amazing indigenous dishes. Participants are also allowed to formulate creative dishes using the sponsor’s products.

The event will feature activities such live cooking demonstrations, mystery basket competition, napkin folding, table setting, sandwich-making competitions and the highly anticipated celebrity cook-off in which recognized individuals will showcase their culinary skills. A mini concert highlighting gold medal winning pieces from the JCDC Festival of the Performing Arts and the JCDC World Reggae Dance Eliminations, which will start at 4:00 p.m. are among other attractions. There will also be product sampling and giveaways from the sponsors throughout the day.

Sponsors include Grace Cocksoup, Grace Coconut Milk, Nestle Betty Sweetened Condensed Milk and Gloria Evaporated Milk, Dairy Industries (Tastee Cheese and Anchor Powdered Milk), Jamaican Teas-Caribbean Dreams Chocolate Tea, Jamaica Flour Mills and Benjamin’s Flavouring Products and Jerk Seasoning.

 The other Regional Finals for the JCDC Festival of Foods will be on Friday, June 21 at the Chinese Benevolent Association, 176 Old Hope Road, Kingston 10, starting at 10:00 a.m.