Boy, am I a proud mother! Today's post is completely off the topic of writing, and all about my family!

My oldest, Amanda just won the Culinary Competition at the prestigious St Martin Boat Show!

She had just gone through a really difficult patch of time, and decided to take this new, more challenging position aboard a high end charter yacht called the Namoh. She and her sister Amelia had just crewed a yacht from San Francisco to Mexico...poor Mia was hoping to enter the yachting industry, but on the trip, she discovered that she gets seasick in high seas! Well...fine by me. One child out of the country is enough.

Well, anyhow, they got to San Diego and Mia had to leave the boat for solid ground, while Amanda continued to Mexico. Once she arrived, a message was waiting that she'd been offered a new position back in the Caribbean, so the next thing I know, she was in Florida starting the new job. To her chagrin, she found that the Namoh was entered in the St Martin Boat Show, and SHE was entered in the culinary competion. Now Amanda has won cooking comptitions before, but this pool of competition is way out of her class...or so she thought! LOL! I love the photos they took of her during the judging, Amanda has never had a poker face, and every emotion is there for you to see. LOL!

Amanda won best overall chef in Division 2, (yachts up to 145 feet long) she and her staff won best place setting, best service, and the entire crew won best ambience. Quite the achievement!

If you'd like to see some images of her winning meal, here are some links:

Prepping the entree: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398590

Prepping the dessert: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398615

Dessert ready for presentation: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398639

Presenting and defending: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398624

Anxiety- waiting as the judges begin: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398625

Damn! I think they like me! http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398623

Winner of place Best Place Setting, Best Ambience, and Best Service: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398634

Crew of the Namoh: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95398659

Award Ceremony: http://www.collages.net/store/emailedphoto2.asp?uniqueproduct=95026331

Thanks for letting a proud mom brag!

Belinda

www.belindamcbride.com