The less-than-auspicious start of Badia Spices in a non-descript store in Miami, by Cuban immigrants who mixed their herbs and spices by hand, has made way 30 years later to Badia Spices, an internationally acclaimed brand whose products are used by professional chefs and cooks worldwide.

The announcement Monday evening at the acclaimed 689 (restaurant) by Brian Lumley that the brand has made its way back to the Caribbean to be exclusively distributed in Jamaica by World Brands Services Ltd, a division of GraceKennedy Foods & Services, took the form of a visual presentation: arrays of Badia products were creatively displayed throughout the restaurant, showing the variety and versatility of the products as well as appetisers created by Chef/Patron Brian Lumley seasoned with the flavours of Badia. There was, too, the opportunity for several lucky attendees to win gift baskets of Badia goodies by giving the correct answers to a Badia-trivia game led by the event’s hostess, Dr Sara Lawrence.

World Brands Services’ Commercial Manager Patrick Goulbourne started the evening’s formalities and welcomed Badia Spice’s account manager Jose Menendez, and business development manager Kathy Riviera, who flew in from the brand’s headquarters in Florida to speak about their expansion plans in Jamaica.

As guests sipped on rosemary mojitos Badia Brand Manager Pettrine Harris spoke of the many health benefits found in Badia Spice bay leaf and basil. Her concise presentation closed with the tag line: “for good food, great taste and good health look no further than Badia Spices”.

The evening’s guest speaker, Chef Karl Thomas, teaching chef and chef technologist at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Technology, spoke of the brand’s reliability and versatility, which was endorsed by Chef Brian Lumley, a fan of Badia products since his early days in the kitchen.

The launch ended with a Celebrity Chef Challenge — Brian Lumley vs Miss Universe Jamaica 2014 Kaci Fennell.

Dr Sara Lawrence divided the room into “Team Brian”, those cheering for Chef Brian Lumley, and “Team Kaci”, supporters of Miss Universe Jamaica 2014 Kaci Fennell, as the two came face-to-face in a Celebrity Chef Challenge that truly spiced up the night. Fennell would emerge the victor.