Endless culinary delights, rum, polo, shopping, beach fun and late night parties await the attendees of the refreshed Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival 2015. “We felt that in our sixth year we would shake things up a bit and incorporate more of our other tourism product offerings into this highly successful festival”, said CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), William Griffith, during the Barbados launch event at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel.
Among this year’s headliners are Chris Cosentino, a leading expert of offal cookery, author and successful San Francisco-based restaurateur; Carla Hall, a co-host of ABC Daytime’s lifestyle series, The Chew, and contestant and fan favorite on Bravo’s Top Chef; Craig Harding, chef/ owner of Campagnolo in Toronto, which features farm-to-table food, and co-host of the web series The Chef’s Bar; and Andrew Pern, whose name is synonymous with the Michelin-starred Starr Inn in Harome in the North of England.
They will be joined by perennial favorite and internationally acclaimed chef, Marcus Samuelsson. Author, James Beard Award winner and Top Chef Master champion, he recently co-produced Harlem EatUp!, a food and cultural festival in Harlem. Chef Samuelsson will also host a special Bajan Invasion launch party at his iconic restaurant Red Rooster on Sept. 17.
Griffith revealed that the BTMI’s teams were implementing an extensive global marketing strategy that will include additional launch events in the UK, Canada and Trinidad; discounted travel deals; digital advertising; media relations; and a new, engaging website at foodwinerum.com.
Among the local chefs who will showcase their skills at the New York event are Andrew Nurse of Hilton Barbados; Kirk Kirton of Fairmont Royal Pavilion; The Crane’s Duayne Holligan; and Jérémy Dupire of The Cliff Beach Club. Barbadian mixologist, Philip Antoine, will also have the honor of having his 2014-winning cocktail celebrated as the official drink of the 2015 festival.
Festivalgoers will be dining from a new menu of events that will commence with the highly anticipated Coastal Blend with Marcus Samuelsson at Oistins on Thursday Nov. 19. Fresh seafood, cooking demonstrations, a mixology showcase and the hottest local music will inspire patrons to eat and dance all night long.
Then on Friday, Nov. 20 for the launch party dubbed Evening Reserve at the new Fusion Rooftop Restaurant in the lush Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. Foodies can meet-and-greet with their favourite chefs, shop sweet deals, sample hors d’oeuvres and enjoy wine tastings all evening long.
On Saturday, Nov. 21 polo fans and enthusiasts will head to the Taste the Spirits at Polo at Holder’s Polo Club while sampling world-class cocktails and canapés.
Later that night, guests can choose to dine at one of four specially designed dinners showcasing the international chefs, and some exceptional on-island talent. The night will be capped off by a rocking after party on Second Street in Holetown.
An exciting all-inclusive beach party dubbed Feast in the Sun will debut on Sunday, Nov. 22 featuring Chef Chris Cosentino at the Hilton Barbados, allowing festival fans a chance to lounge by the shore, fill up on authentic barbeque meals and soak up the vibrant scene at the beautiful Needham’s Point.
