ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — St. Mary’s Secondary School student Aleka Lewis Jr. has begun a culinary internship at Hermitage Bay as part of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy 2026.

Lewis is being mentored by Executive Chef Desroy Spence during the six-week internship, which runs from July 13 to Aug. 21. The programme gives aspiring young chefs the opportunity to gain practical experience in a professional kitchen while developing their culinary skills under the guidance of industry professionals.

The internship is a key component of the Junior Chef Academy, which will culminate in a cook-off competition from Aug. 25 to 28. The programme will conclude with a closing ceremony on Sept. 3.

At the end of the competition, one participant will be named the academy’s top Junior Chef and will earn the opportunity to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the Junior Lit’l Chef Camp in Turks and Caicos in 2027 through a partnership with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.

The Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy 2026 is presented by the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, the Ted Isaac Family and Global Ports Holding (Antigua Cruise Port). The initiative is designed to nurture young culinary talent and encourage careers in the hospitality industry.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: St. Mary’s Student Begins Culinary Internship Through Junior Chef Academy.