There remains a collective grief in the culinary community at the passing on Friday, January 19, 2024 of Axel Wichterich of MarBlue.

Axel and his wife Andrea vacationed in Jamaica in 2003, fell in love with the island, and never left. Together they settled in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, and founded MarBlue Hotel which grew from three rooms to 10 elegant suites built by Axel and decorated by Andrea, becoming a culinary destination and winning accolades from travel writers across the globe.

Axel was a skilled architect and chef whose creations received plaudits, including the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards: Culinary Destination of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and copped Most Innovative Dish five years in a row. Axel was in 2012 awarded the Chairman’s Award.

An active member of the Treasure Beach community he provided culinary training for youth in the area. His Marblue Teen Cooking Class Challenges, introduced in 2009 at no cost to teens, were very popular. Axel felt it important to challenge and motivate young people. Indeed, he introduced all to bespoke dining at MarBlue something many are not likely to forget.