BVI wins big at 2025 Caribbean Baking Awards

in All News / By: BVI News on February 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM /

LSL Bakeshop BVI, a family-owned bakery by Seriene Maduro, was named Best Pastry Shop of the Year, a newly introduced category.

The British Virgin Islands claimed victories in four categories at the 2025 Caribbean Baking Awards, securing top honours among the region’s best bakers.

After months of online voting across the Caribbean, the BVI garnered the most votes in three different categories.

Cara Christopher won Rising Star of the Year after receiving multiple nominations. Juana France took home the award for Best Specialty Baked Goods. LSL Bakeshop BVI, a family-owned bakery by Seriene Maduro, was named Best Pastry Shop of the Year, a newly introduced category, and Infinity Bridal and Cake Shop in Virgin Gorda, owned by Sandra Ward, was awarded Best Cake Retail Store.

Alongside BVI’s wins, bakers from across the Caribbean received recognition in 14 other categories:

Best Chocolatier – Josveek Huligar (Anguilla)
Best Cupcake – The Kenden (Antigua and Barbuda)
Cake Hero – Lana Williams (Antigua and Barbuda)
Best Sculpted Cake – Gayrielle Harper (Barbados)
Best Cookie Art – Sherian Alexander Georges (Dominica)
People’s Choice Award – Shirlyn James Graham (Dominica)
Best Buttercream Cake – Shania Sampson (Guyana)
Best Pastry Shop/Café – Mint Café (Jamaica)
Best Traditional Caribbean Bakes – Deadre Burrell (Jamaica)
Innovative Baker of the Year – Deadre Burrell (Jamaica)
Pastry Chef of the Year – Tamara Groeneveldt (Saint Martin)
Best Wedding Cake – Joshua Singh (Trinidad and Tobago)
Best Learning Experience – Anna Sattoo-Chung (Trinidad and Tobago)
Best Cake Designer – Staci Bunbury (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Caribbean Baking Awards, now in its second year, was hosted at the Multi-Sports Complex on Saturday, February 22, following the Ultimate Bake-Off the previous day.

The event was made possible through sponsorships, including support from the BVI Tourist Board, the VI Government’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, and InterCaribbean Airways, which covered flights for ten contenders (excluding taxes) and provided a 15 percent discount for attendees.

The event, organised by Shanda Glasgow-Webster, was widely praised for celebrating baking talent across the region, with many winners expressing gratitude for the recognition and optimism about the event’s continued growth in the coming years.