Colombian Food Festival success for Hyatt Regency Trinidad

Hyatt Regency Trinidad, in collaboration with Copa Airlines and Proexport, hosted a Colombian Food Festival, 6-9 October, 2010, featuring celebrity chef Catalina Velez Ocampo.

Working with Hyatt’s Executive Chef Fernando Franco and his team, Chef Velez came to Trinidad to prepare and offer authentic Colombian cuisine to all guests. In addition, four top salsa dancers from Colombia performed nightly at the hotel during the four-day festival.

“We were so happy to welcome Chef Velez Ocampo as a part of our culinary team for this festival,” said Hyatt Regency Trinidad’s Executive Chef Fernando Franco. “The menu we prepared offered a new culinary experience for diners and focused on highlighting fresh, authentic produce from Colombia. We infused and combined ingredients such as achiote, cacao and quinoa to prepare entrees of chicken, fish and beef. To top it off, we created interesting dessert flavours like Chocolate Melcocha with Coffee Syrup and Guava Mousse.”

Colombian chef Catalina Velez has 11 years of culinary experience. She became a certified chef at The Art Institute of Atlanta in the United States and later obtained Cordon Bleu certification in Paris. Velez currently produces and hosts “Origins” on the Gourmet Channel, a television show highlighting indigenous Colombian products. Velez also hosts “Cocinando Ando…Ando Cocinando”, a television show that recommends a new and more nutritious way of eating, and encourages the Colombian population to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Chef Velez has participated in culinary events worldwide, the most notable of which have been in Japan, Peru, Panama, and the United States.

The salsa performers who graced the festival with their moves were international professional dancers from one of the best dance schools in Colombia, Tango Vivo and Salsa Viva. They have been featured in different festivals around the world including Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Italy and France.

For more information on Hyatt Regency Trinidad, visit: trinidad.hyatt.com