After graduating from high school, Chef Vernon Hughes went to work as a dishwasher at Anguilla’s Cinnamon Reef Hotel, where his cousin, George Ried, was sous chef. His cousin and then Executive Chef Victor Connor, quickly recognized Hughes’s interest in cooking and set out to introduce him to the world of the culinary arts.

Over the next 20 years, Hughes worked his way up in the hotel’s kitchen to the position of Executive Chef. In 1991, he earned the prestigious title of Anguilla’s Chef of the Year. In 1997 his talent was once again honored and he was featured in Discovery Channel’s Great Chefs of the Caribbean.

Following the closure of the Cinnamon Reef Hotel, Hughes opened his own restaurant, E’s Oven Restaurant & Bar, in South Hill to rave reviews. Named for his mother who used to bake in the traditional stone oven located where the bar section of the restaurant now sits, E’s Oven is a favorite dining destination for both residents and visitors. There Hughes specializes in upscale Caribbean cuisine that he describes as “local cuisine with a fine touch.”