Taste of St. Croix Culinary Competition
Divi Carina Bay
Thursday, April 16th 2009, 6-9pm
A Taste of St. Croix is a wine and food event that showcases the diverse and delicious cuisine (and wines) available on St. Croix.
This event benefits the St. Croix Foundation, a non-profit organization that works diligently to revitalize the US Virgin Islands.
As you may already know, A Taste of St. Croix was the key (and first!) ingredient to the weeklong series of fabulous food and wine events which is now known as the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience. The week of “Feastivities” started on Tuesday night with a town walk-about with stops at three restaurants (Dashi, Zebos, Bacchus) and a second event - an elegant dinner at Tutto Bene. Wednesday we had a really amazing wine dinner at the Galleon and a separate event featured three celebrated chefs in a competition called Iron Chef, Top Chef, Island Chef (Iron Chef Kevin Rathbun, Top Chef Antonia Lofaso and Island Chef Leslie Gumbs). Leslie Gumbs of St. Thomas won the event – the coconut cracking skills took him over the top with points!
And of course, there was A Taste of St. Croix –where more than 55 restaurants from St. Croix competed in a friendly competition (judged by celebrity chefs from USA, and notable special guests), and more than 1000 locals and visitors got the opportunity to sample wines from around the world, fine cuisine and also, the culture of St. Croix. The following evening (Friday) there was a series of Cork & Fork dinners prepared by the celebrity chefs at various intimate venues and Saturday was a wine event called Wine in the Warehouse. The week was really packed with fun, culture, friends, and fundraising efforts to benefit the island and the projects of the St.Croix Foundation. Without our sponsors, restaurants, distributors, volunteers and guests who made this event yet another successful engagement, this would not be possible. So thank you and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
The winners from A Taste of St. Croix are:
Best Presentation: St. Croix Central High school Cooking Class
Beverage:
1st: Dashi
2nd: Verdel Petersen’s Cruzan’s Cocktails
3rd : Baci Duty Free
Appetizer:
1st: Salud Bistro
2nd: Pickled Greek
3rd: Ono’s on the Waterfront
Soup & Stew:
1st: Galangal
2nd: Bacchus
2nd: Elizabeth’s at H2O
2nd: Galleon
2nd: Zebos
Entrée:
1st: Zebos
2nd: Lori’s Deli
3rd: Tutto Bene
Dessert:
1st: Rowdy Joe’s Northside Eatery
2nd: Creque Dam Farm (VISFI)
3rd: Bacchus
3rd: Elizabeth’s at H2O
Local:
1st: Betty’s Kitchen
2nd: Roti Master
3rd: Magic Kitchen
Vegetarian:
1st: Tutto Bene
2nd: Annie’s Catering
3rd: Galangal
People’s Choice:
Rumrunners Bar & Restaurant
About the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience showcases the diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The four-day event includes gourmet dinners, wine seminars, wine auctions, and the annual culinary competition, A Taste of St. Croix. The event benefits the St. Croix Foundation (www.stxfoundation.org), a non-profit community foundation that administers a number of local programs. The event was started in 2001 by restaurant owners Katherine Pugliese, original owner of Bacchus and now the Wine Director with Premier Wines & Spirits, and Kelly Odom of Tutto Bene, and is recognized as the pre-eminent food and wine event in the Caribbean. For more information visit www.StCroixFoodandWine.com.
About The St. Croix Foundation
Proceeds from The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience are donated to The St. Croix Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on community revitalization, economic development, youth programs, education and additional needs in the community. The culinary events have raised more than $500,000 for The St. Croix Foundation. For more information visit www.stxfoundation.org.
We want to say thank you to our sponsors!!!
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