There is no better backdrop to indulge in tasty and well thought-out dishes and sip on fine wine than a breezy, moonlit evening on the ocean in the Caribbean.
That was the setting in April during the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience. Now in its 11th year, the festival, more like a tantalizing and sexy week packed with the U.S. Virgin Island’s best food and drink, was the event not to miss. As early as Tuesday, one of the most delicious six days known to the islands, visitors from all over including the mainland U.S., are thrown into fancy and casual dinners, cocktail receptions, cooking demos and seminars.
The kick-off dinner, hosted by Tuttu Benne, an Italian mainstay, was executed by Top Chef All Star contestant and “Fan Favorite,” Tiffany Derry. Derry, a jovial young chef, prepared a five-course meal representing island flavors and ingredients while infusing them with her winning style and methodical approach. I particularly enjoyed the braised oxtail patty—a meat delicacy I grew up enjoying and one that I am eager to share more and more with my own clients. That dinner set the tone for the rest of the week.
Events were interactive, hands-on and star-studded with a line-up of celeb chefs such as Kevin Rathbun (Iron Chef winner), Roberto Treviño (Next Iron Chef contestant) and Michael Ferraro (MacBar & Delicatessen in Manhattan), among other TV personalities.
As the week progressed, anticipation built for the main event on Saturday, “Taste of St. Croix.” 50 local restaurants, chefs, street vendors and spirits purveyors converged on the steamy Saturday evening and dished out their respective best dishes, which attracted roughly 1,200 excited palates.
Island classics weren’t jerk or curry dishes, but rather a bursting combination of flavors such as East Indian rice and peas inspired by Trinidadians, Spanish paella, and the recently trendy cake pops—with a Caribbean spin, of course, spiced with rum and freshly grated coconut. Seeming to take up one ultra long mile of shoreline, the setting was extremely visual with every exhibitor booth in crisp white tents with lavender lighting.
Surely, the challenge was getting a mouthful of tastings from all of the exhibitors, but bumping shoulders with a massive number of people forced one to streamline his/her interests. Choosing wisely was a true testament to knowing what excites one’s palate the most. Though, truth be told, there was little to nothing one could walk away from not loving.
At a minimum, live jazz, smacking waves, bottomless cocktails and wine were reason enough to make the St. Croix festival an annual trip. It just doesn’t get better than a beachside culinary indulgence.
Visit the festival’s site for more information and to make plans for next year’s must-do culinary fete.
St. Croix, or Saint Croix, is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean Sea. Its mixed populations consist of Afro-Caribbean, Puerto Ricans, and Continental Americans. Arab Palestinians started to migrate in the 1960’s and the recent migration has come from the Philippians, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti. Given the beauty and magic of the island, it is no wonder many call this paradise home.
If you are thinking about visiting before next year’s festival, there is an endless list of activities to do, places to see, places to eat and relaxation to enjoy. Some suggested activities on St. Croix include:
- Ridge to Reef Farm on the Creque Dam Farm grounds: www.visfi.org
- Tan Tan 4x4 jeep tours: www.stxtantantours.com
- Buck Island half or full-day sails: www.bigbeards.com
- ATV tours: www.geckosislandadventures.com
- Sea-thru kayaks: www.seathrukayaksvi.com
- Kite Surfing: www.kitestcroix.com
Lastly, for a list of the top 10 places to dine and why, click here.
For planning your trip to St. Croix, visit www.gotostcroix.com. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, go to www.visitusvi.com.
