Chef Wouter Tjeertes, the executive pastry chef at the Half Moon hotel in Montego Bay, travelled and worked in a number of countries before calling Jamaica his home. Born in The Netherlands, Tjeertes knew he wanted to be a pastry chef from the tender age of six while on a school excursion where he visited a bakery. “I was so captivated by everything that was happening and the experience I had that even at that time I felt that this was to be my career path,” he shared with Thursday Food.

In his 10 years of service to the food industry, Tjeertes has held a number of senior positions. He served as company manager at the Metropolitan Deli in Amsterdam and The Netherlands, and was also the chef and demonstrator at The Real Chocolate Company in Amsterdam. He also served as pastry chef at the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino in Willemstad, Curacao, and this led to a deep-rooted love affair with the Caribbean. Naturally, when Half Moon requested his services in March 2011, it was a dream come true for him. Tjeertes says the Half Moon family has made him feel right at home. “The people here welcomed me with open arms; I feel as though I never left home.” Chef Tjeertes looks forward to exploring and enjoying Jamaica’s landscape, which he says lured him to the island. When not creating delectable pastries, Tjeertes, who is fluent in three languages — Dutch, Spanish and English — enjoys playing soccer, cooking for family and friends and sharing his vast knowledge with young hopefuls through conducting pastry workshops.