Publix
Culinary Stage
Publix Culinary Pavilion
Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic experience at the Publix Culinary Stage! This incredible festival feature is jam-packed with food-centric excitement, featuring mouthwatering samplings, cooking demonstrations, epic competitions with celebrity chefs, food bloggers, and local TV personalities, all hosted by the amazing Chef Irie.
With high-energy cook-offs and plenty of chances for audience involvement and giveaways, this promises to be an interactive and exciting experience you simply can’t miss. And that’s not all – prepare for engaging Q&A sessions with food experts. Calling all foodies – this is a feature you absolutely must experience.
Host & Resident Chef
Chef Irie
Hugh Sinclair, the Global Culinary Architect, is the executive chef of Chef Irie Spice Inc. – Personal Chef and Catering Services, providing services to the tri-county area of South Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Before relocating to the sunshine state, Hugh migrated to New York.
Hugh always had a passion for cooking and felt right at home in the kitchen. After working several years as an architect, the yearning to create culinary masterpieces vs. architectural aesthetics overtook his desires. It was then that Hugh enrolled in Johnson & Wales University’s Culinary Arts program, embarking on his culinary journey. Graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, Hugh has taken on the South Florida culinary landscape by storm. Being a personal chef has allowed him to work with entertainers, athletes, and many South Florida elite.
The critically acclaimed TV cooking mini-series, “Taste the Islands with Chef Irie,” was launched nationwide on April 4th in 135 PBS markets. A made-for-television series produced by Blondie Ras Productions, Inc., “Taste the Islands” is the only original Caribbean-produced television series featuring a Caribbean chef on a television network or otherwise. Chef Irie competed and made it to the second round of Food Network’s ever-popular series, Cutthroat Kitchen.
@iamchefirie
Co-Host
Suzette Speaks
Suzette Speaks is a dynamic and respected attorney, radio personality, and community advocate who has made a significant impact in South Florida. Affectionately known as the “Hostess with the Mostest,” she has built an impressive career across television, radio, and live events—hosting popular shows, curating thought-provoking community forums and women’s conferences, and bringing people together through networking socials and charity galas. Her passion for connecting with and empowering others shines through in her current role as host of The Suzette Speaks Show, an engaging FM radio talk show airing Thursdays and Fridays from 1–2 PM throughout Miami and Fort Lauderdale and streaming worldwide on VoiceOfTheCaribbean.com. You can follow Suzette on all major social media platforms for inspiring content and updates.
Judge
Chef Reece
Travis “Chef Reece” Reece, born in Kingston and raised in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, is the owner of Chef Reece Kitchen in Davie, Florida—famous for its Jamaican Fusion dishes and “Flavors Out of this World.” Inspired by his grandmother’s farm, where he learned to raise animals and grow fresh produce, he developed a lifelong passion for food that led him from selling plates to launching his successful catering company, Taste of Jamrock, serving celebrities, entertainers, and athletes.
Now a recognized chef in South Florida, Chef Reece continues to honor his Jamaican roots by creating bold, flavorful dishes that bring people together, showcasing his dedication, creativity, and love.
@chefreecekitchen_fl
Panelist
Chef Vicky
The granddaughter of self-taught entrepreneurs and distillers, Chef Vicky Colas grew up on her family’s Haitian estate alongside a rhum distillery, where Sunday feasts celebrated food, family, and heritage. Today, she re-imagines those traditions through Internation Caribbean
Contemporary cuisine — blending island soul with global techniques and nutrition-forward creativity.
Her dishes are sweet, exotic, and bursting with flavor — a reflection of the love and artistry that define her culinary journey.
A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and Florida International University (FIU) with a BS in Hospitality Restaurant Management and an MS in Dietetics & Nutrition, Chef Vicky merges culinary mastery with nutritional science to craft menus and product concepts that celebrate both flavor and wellness.
She is the founder of Pro Kitchen Hub, A Unique Taste Inc., and Unique Culinary Group LLC, mentoring chefs, developing food brands, and empowering entrepreneurs across the U.S. and Caribbean.
The Competitions
The "Chef's Throwdown"
Get ready for an epic culinary showdown as Chef Clay and Chef Rose go head-to-head in an exciting Chef’s Throwdown! Watch these two master chefs battle it out with bold flavors and creative twists, bringing heat to the stage.
Chef Clay
Chef Clay is a Jamaican-born chef, cultural ambassador, and culinary visionary, known for transforming authentic Jamaican cuisine into unforgettable, world-class experiences. A former football goalkeeper, he traded the field for the kitchen—bringing discipline, heart, and precision to every dish he creates.
Inspired by his mother and fueled by a passion to elevate Jamaican cuisine on a global scale, Chef Clay founded Clay’s Kitchen, a brand celebrated for its bold flavors, immersive pop-up events, and cultural authenticity.
His influence is rapidly growing across the U.S. as he shares his story through food, storytelling, and community connection. Chef Clay is not just building a brand—he’s building a legacy rooted in purpose, passion, and pride for his culture.
@cla.yskitchen
Chef Rose
Cheffield Jamaican Cuisine, founded by Chef Rose, is a creative spin take-out and delivery restaurant that reimagines traditional Jamaican flavors, spices, and cooking techniques with unique presentation. With a passion for sharing Jamaica’s vibrant cultural roots and culinary traditions, Chef Rose’s dishes celebrate diversity and bring people together through the power of food. From classic jerk chicken and ackee with saltfish to innovative jerk curry chicken stew, ackee and jerk salmon, pumpkin plantain waffles, and vegan ital stew with falafel, every bite feels like coming home, filled with warmth, comfort, and honest hospitality.
@chefrose.jamaicancuisine
"The Influencer" QuickFire Challenge
The sparks will continue to fly as, 2024 Social Media Influencer winner, Monica Gonzalez, and Sky Princess, face off in this year’s culinary challenge. This is a showdown you won’t want to miss!
2024 Champion: Monica Gonzalez
I began as a Yelp Miami reviewer, earning 10 years as Yelp Elite before launching KREAM—Kalories Rule Everything Around Me, South Florida’s only food blog fusing hip hop culture with culinary content. Through my #FoodAndHipHop niche, I’ve interviewed stars like DJ Khaled, Kodak Black, and Trina Rockstarr, and covered major festivals, concerts, and food events.
Born in Miami to Cuban roots and now based in Fort Lauderdale, I’m passionate about giving back through community food drives, mentoring women and youth, and creating unforgettable food-and-culture experiences.
@_k_r_e_a_m_
Challenger: Sky Princess
Diedra Allen, also known as JaSkyPrincess, is a Kingston-born visionary whose childhood dream of flying began with the women of Air Jamaica. While pursuing her Marketing degree, she never lost sight of her goal. Now a flight attendant, content creator, and aspiring pilot, she seamlessly blends travel expertise with cultural pride, advising travelers, inspiring dreamers, and fostering connections worldwide. When she’s not 10,000 feet in the sky, she’s hosting Yawd or Abroad, her dating show that helps singles find love across borders. Her passion for Jamaican culture and her desire to uplift and connect people fuels everything she does.
@jaskyprincess