chefs at an international culinary competition.

However, Hurricane Georges blew away Bermuda's hopes of picking up more gold at the Taste of the Caribbean cookfest in Puerto Rico.

Last week, Hurricane Georges wreaked havoc across the Caribbean with 120 mile an hour winds and torrential rains.

The category three hurricane caused so much damage that several Islands were not able to rally their teams together for the annual 20-team event.

And the event site itself, El Conquistador Resort and Country Club in Las Croabas, Puerto Rico, also took a battering from Georges.

The devastating storm has left the 11-member local team heart-broken and dreaming of what might have been.

For there had been high hopes that the team would conquer all, following-up on the last year's recipe for success.

Bermuda Culinary Team chairman Graham Redford had said the team was aiming to win gold medals in both the junior and senior teams.

Last year, during their first appearance at the prestigious competition, the Bermudian junior team won a gold medal, achieving the highest overall scores ever.

Caribbean recipes: Page 28