Have you bought your tickets to the 4th Annual Tampa Bay International Curry Festival?
This one-of-a-kind event takes place Saturday, September 19, 2015, and will feature an assortment of curry-based dishes, family-friendly entertainment and renowned international chefs such as curry-aficionado Chef Gaston D. Merideth, who will be a judge in the Curry Cook Off, a competition that showcases 25 renowned international chefs and student chefs.
During this competition, each chef will be creating incredible cuisines with curry from over 20 different countries and will be competing for over $10,000 in cash prizes as well as the title of Curry Grand Champion.
Chef Gaston will be bringing in over 25 years of culinary experience into the event, as well as a list of noteworthy achievements such as:
- Founding, owning, and operating Gaston’s Culinary Services Inc.
- Working previously for Universal Studios in Orlando, the Compass Group, and Marriott International.
- Previously owning two restaurants, an hors d’oeuvres company, and a culinary consulting firm.
- Appearing on numerous talks shows on ABC, CTN, and a variety of other networks
- Getting published in Restaurant Magazine, Sam’s Club Food Service Magazine, and Knight Ridder
- Publishing the inspirational Christian cookbook “Food for Thought" which you can Buy on Amazon
In addition to these accomplishments, Chef Gaston’s catering services have also been requested by a myriad of notable politicians, famous athletes, and many other VIPs, both locally and nationally.
Way to go chef!
Cooking as Art?
For Chef Gaston, cooking “is an art, just like painting, dancing, or a musical.”
“Many have their own unique style,” he explains.
“My uniqueness,” he adds, “is diversity of cuisine from Oriental, Caribbean, French, to Southern Soul, Italian, or a little Mediterranean.”
“The key is to be original,” he suggests.
For the Love of Curry
What does Chef Gaston love about curry?
“I simply love the different flavors,” he lauds. “You will find turmeric, coriander, and cumin in most curries along with regional spices to give it uniqueness, heat and color.”
He remarks that curry has a variety of purposes and “can be used in proteins, starches, sauteing or even desserts.”
This level of creativity is what sets Chef Gaston apart.
As a returning chef, Gaston looks forward to both the festival on Saturday, September 19, and the VIP event the Friday night before.
“The VIP night gives me and the other judges a chance to showcase our talent,” he explains.
The Tampa Bay International Curry Festival’s “Friday Night VIP Party” will be held on September 18th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Bayanihan Arts & Events Center in Tampa and will include access to an open bar, lively entertainment, and endless cuisine as part of a fundraising event that will feature an auction.
“It will help organizations such as Save Abee, which helps children in poverty worldwide,” Chef Gaston explains.
Along with Save Abee, the event will benefit children’s, medical, and education-based charities also.
As far as Saturday’s events go, Chef Gaston excitedly explains that, “the array of vendors and entertainment at the festival is awesome.”
He continues by expressing, “the Tampa Bay Curry Festival has become one of the area's premiere events to have a fun day with the family.”
