Best Dressed Plate, the premier global platform dedicated to elevating Caribbean gastronomy, has announced the return of the Caribbean Culinary Impact Awards, an initiative designed to celebrate the chefs, creators, restaurants, and innovators shaping the future of Caribbean cuisine.

Now in its second year, the awards will be announced on December 15th via Best Dressed Plate’s Instagram page, @bestdressedplate. The 2025 edition introduces an expanded slate of honourees and categories, reflecting the growing influence and global visibility of Caribbean food culture.

Celebrating Caribbean Culinary Excellence

This year’s awards will honour outstanding talent across the following categories:
• Trailblazing Chef of the Year
• Rising Star Chef
• Excellence in Culinary Entrepreneurship
• Food Content Creator
• Best Caribbean Restaurant
• Food Truck/Pop-Up of the Year

In a significant evolution, BDP has introduced regional honouree groups for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. Each region will spotlight chefs whose work exemplifies the creativity, resilience, and identity of Caribbean cuisine. According to the organisation, this strategic expansion acknowledges both the sheer volume of Caribbean culinary professionals across the diaspora and the cuisine’s growing global reach.

Two new specialised award categories have also been added for 2025:
• The Sylvia Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award, named in honour of the pioneering Trinidadian cook and television icon; and
• Best Caribbean Culinary Destination, recognising excellence in food culture and tourism.

Reclaiming Narrative, Redefining Excellence

Founder of Best Dressed Plate and Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Nneka Nurse, emphasised the significance of this year’s expanded awards.

“The timing for these awards has never been more critical,” Nneka said. “Caribbean cuisine is finally receiving the global acknowledgment it has long deserved. The Caribbean Culinary Impact Awards are not just about giving out trophies; they are about reclaiming our narrative and defining our own standards of excellence.”

She noted that the decision to broaden the awards reflects the depth and diversity of Caribbean talent, from fine-dining chefs to digital storytellers and culinary entrepreneurs. As Caribbean cuisine continues to command international attention-bolstered by the historic inclusion of Buzo Barbados and Stush In The Bush on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list- Nneka believes the awards will shine an essential spotlight on the ecosystem driving this culinary renaissance.

Following the announcements, detailed video profiles of each honouree will be featured on BestDressedPlate.com throughout the year, offering insight into their contributions to the evolution and elevation of Caribbean cuisine.

MORE ABOUT NNEKA NURSE AND BEST DRESSED PLATE

Best Dressed Plate stands as the definitive global authority on Caribbean gastronomy, using curated content, strategic advocacy, and high-level events to showcase the depth and diversity of the region’s culinary talent. Under its leadership, Caribbean cuisine is not only celebrated and protected, but also presented on the world stage through the voices and vision of its own creators. Today, recognition from Best Dressed Plate is regarded as a coveted marker of authenticity and excellence, underscoring the platform’s influence in shaping the global culinary canon.

At the heart of this movement is founder Nneka Nurse, a leading advocate for Caribbean food culture and a dynamic curator of its evolving identity. With roots in Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados, Nurse has dedicated her career to elevating the region’s cuisine beyond stereotypes and championing it as a refined, world-class tradition. Through Best Dressed Plate, she connects chefs across the diaspora, amplifies emerging and established culinary innovators, and relentlessly champions the rightful place of Caribbean cuisine in international gastronomy. Together, Nneka and Best Dressed Plate form a powerful force redefining how Caribbean food is seen, valued, and celebrated around the world.