The organisers of the Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE) food and wine festival have announced the winners of this year’s bartending and chef competitions.
The 2025 Bartending Battle saw Kyrleson Klaren of Sandbar take home two titles: first place and the People’s Choice ACE Taste award.
Orozco Mofford of Sharky’s earned a strong second place finish, impressing both judges and attendees with his skill behind the bar.
In the Chefs’ Battle, Karan Kumar – competing as a private chef – emerged as the overall champion.
After placing second in last year’s event, Kumar returned with renewed focus and flair to secure the top spot in 2025.
In a Facebook post, the organisers congratulated the winners and praised everyone who took part.
“We’re raising a glass to all the incredibly talented participants who brought their passion, skill, and creativity to the 2025 ACE Bartending and Chefs’ Battle competitions,” they said.
Watch the highlights of the competition below:
Food and wine
The island’s signature food and wine festival returned with five days of world-class flavours and cultural flair from 30 April to 4 May.
Bringing together top chefs from Anguilla and around the globe, the fourth annual event showcased local traditions, fresh ingredients, and exceptional dining experiences.
The festival kicks off with an opening party which saw Malliouhana Resort’s culinary team present a selection of island-inspired dishes.
Headlining the ‘Taste the Magic of Malliouhana’ event was culinary director Kerth Gumbs – winner of BBC’s Great British Menu and a judge on MasterChef Junior.
Other events and activities throughout the week included johnny cake making, a rum crawl, ceviche making, wine tasting, a family fun day and more.
A portion of proceeds from the festival will go towards educational programmes for trainee culinary and hospitality professionals and the Anguilla National Culinary Team.
