UVA & Cocktail Kitchen’s award-winning Executive Chef, Damian Leach, discovered his passion for cooking at the age of 13. After earning Le Grand Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu in Canada, he gained extensive experience in culinary arts, working in renowned restaurants across the island.
Damian Leach
Damian achieved the title of Barbados Chef of the Year in 2016 and represented the island at the annual CHTA Taste of The Caribbean competition in Miami, Florida, winning Gold and the CHTA Caribbean Chef of the Year title. He concluded 2016 by winning the NIFCA Chef of the Year and receiving The Governor General’s Award of Excellence.
reserve now
In 2017, Damian represented Barbados again at the CHTA Taste of the Caribbean competition, winning Seafood Chef of the Year and contributing to the Barbados culinary team’s victory as CHTA Caribbean National Team of the Year. He reclaimed the Barbados Chef of the Year title in 2018. In 2019, Damian focused on pastry and competed at Taste of the Caribbean, winning Silver in the Pastry Chef of the Year category and the Caribbean Team of the Year award. He later won the 2019 Barbados Pastry Chef of the Year title at the BHTA culinary competition.
Continued Accolades
Chef Damian continued to add to his accolades, winning “The Gine On” Chef of the Year title in 2020 and 2022, and becoming the Maggi Food Court Caribbean Season 3 champion. In 2024, he became the coach of the Barbados culinary team, leading them to win the Caribbean Team of the Year Gold. Damian continues to promote Barbados as a culinary ambassador, representing the island at events in the UK, USA, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and Dubai.
view the gallery
