Updated: September 22, 2017
At the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, there is no shortage of gourmet food and rum to excite your palate. Find out more on why you should be there?
Imagine, delectable dinners, luscious desserts, flowing rum complemented by turquoise water nudging up against silky soft sandy shores.
Better yet, glorious sunshine with Vitamin D to energize your body and mind. You have to be in Bridgetown this November 16 to 19 to experience it.
Barbados is the melting pot for West Indian cuisine. The flavours of its land have evolved over centuries with European and African influences on the island’s Arawak Indian cooking.
What better place to savour authentic Barbadian cuisine, than at the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. It’s an upscale celebration of gastronomic art, featuring international and local celebrity chefs, rum experts and mixologists.
This year’s celebrity chef list features Tom Aikens, Henderson Butcher, Creig Greenidge, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Willis Griffith, John Hazzard, Michael Hinds, Damian Leach, Chris De La Rosa, and Michael Harrison.
Music and rum, tons of food and fun, amazing people, the weather and setting are reasons
why you should attend the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, said Compagnolo Restaurant (Toronto) co-owner and chef Craig Harding in his interview with Caribbean Vibrations TV. It’s such a beautiful place to be connected to, he added.
On November 16, the 8th Barbados Food and Rum Festival will kick off with the Oistins Bay Gardens Cook Off. Watch local chefs fire up delicious barbeques under the stars, and savour mouth-watering seafood at the historic Oistins fishing village.
Rum – The True Spirit of Barbados
Not-to-miss is the Signature Rum Event with food and rum pairings on Friday, November 17. History suggests rum originated in Barbados. Rum and Bajan culture are deeply intertwined. To get a true taste of the island’s heritage and history, take a sip of rum or savour a piece of the island’s delicious rum cake.
Mount Gay Distilleries is the island’s most renowned and oldest rum distiller whose beginning dates back to 1703. Mount Gay rum is considered the world’s finest and oldest existing brand of rum. Barbadian rum adds a distinctive, rich flavour to beverages, and desserts like rum cakes, rum balls and flambé bananas. It’s an excellent marinade for light meat such as, chicken, pork and seafood.
Related: Coconut Macaroon and Flambéed Banana: Simple and Appealing
Saturday highlights include a game of Polo feted to a selection of world-class cocktails and canapés, and exquisite dinners prepared by celebrity chefs including Chris De La Rosa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
The festival peaks on the Sunday with an entertaining beach party and food sampling at the Hilton Resort Barbados. UK Master Chef, Tom Aikens will grace the finale with an opulent dinner at the Tides Restaurant. For the latest program details, go to visitbarbados.org/food-and-rum-festival
Sandals Barbados – A Foodie’s Dream
Looking to indulge in a little luxury without having to worry about your food and beverage or recreation budget? The award-winning Sandals Barbados offers an attractive all-inclusive gourmet and fun package that includes unlimited:
- Fine dining in 11 restaurants: Caribbean, Italian, Indian, French, Japanese to New York-style steakhouse, and more.
- Premium spirits and Modavi wines in seven bars
- Scuba diving, land and water sports
Sandals Barbados even throws in a free non-stop round-trip airport transfer for their guests.
Unlimited Dining and Drinking at Sandals
For scenic views, fun times, and a taste of exotic fare, the Bombay Club at Sandals Barbados is a perfect gourmet escape. The Bombay Club is home to the first Indian restaurant in the Sandals chain.
Sandals Royal Barbados Opening and 17 Dining Options
Sandals is launching its second Barbados property, Sandals Royal Barbados this December 20th, featuring six gourmet restaurants.
With the new opening, Sandals is offering an exclusive “Stay At One, Play at Two” program where guests have full exchange privileges at either resort.
Gourmet lovers would be thrilled to enjoy unlimited dining and drinking at 17 restaurants between the two resorts – Sandals Barbados and the new Sandals Royal Barbados.
