A Taste of Barbados International Food Festival

Indulge the Senses at One of the Island's Most Glamorous Events

Sep 13, 2008

In October, Barbados plays host to the island's International Food Festival, 'A Taste of Barbados', featuring nine days of the very best in food and drink.

Set against the backdrop of historic attractions, exclusive venues and popular street locations, A Taste of Barbados aims to promote the quality and diversity of food, restaurants and bars of the idyllic Caribbean island.

A Taste of Barbados Program Highlights

Over a nine-day period (from 3rd to 11th of October 2008), visitors can savour the culinary delights of traditional and international cuisine including celebrity dinners, join a Barbados Sugar Tour, attend the Best Big Bajan Barbecue and become rum aficionados. Night Cap Street Limes along the popular St. Lawrence Gap or Holetown areas is a perfect way to end the day.

Celebrity Chef Dinners

A Taste of Barbados features a number of gourmet dinners featuring Caribbean, North American and British celebrity chefs:

Sugar Tour and Rum Safari

On Tuesday 7 October, the Sweeter Side of Barbados Sugar Tour takes in parts of the island almost never seen by tourists: from the historic sugar museum to the elegance of plantation house life, te day tour provides a unique insight into how sugar has, and continues to shape Barbados. Scheduled for Friday 10 October, the 4x4 Safari Rum Shop Tour is a celebration of the rum shop culture which is so integral to life in Barbados.

Gourmet Taste at Holders

For a total and indulging culinary experience, the Gourmet Taste at Holders on Thursday 9 October is an event not to be missed. Set in the magnificent setting of Holders House, the evening features signature dishes from some of the island’s most celebrated restaurants, combined with the exquisite flavours of specially selected wines and spirits. Here, visitors can walk around the event and watch appetizers, entrees and desserts being created by top chefs, pick up a few tips from the professionals and sample the delicious results.

Guilty Pleasures

The Festival culminates on an indulgent note on Friday 10 October with Guilty Pleasures, a ‘tasting’ of decadent desserts, sensuous foods and naughty but nice cocktails, featuring one of the most celebrated pastry chefs, Warren "Cakelove" Brown, host of Food Network's 'Sugar Rush'.

Dining by Design

On Saturday 11 October, Dining by Design at the island’s most prestigious polo development, Lion’s Castle, will pair designers and chefs for a special dining experience guaranteed to stimulate the senses. Each chef-and-designer team will create personal dining spaces with cuisine that expresses the elements of the design in an explosion of colour and fashion for a night of dinner, dancing and fun.

A Taste of Barbados for Kids

Children are not forgotten at A Taste of Barbados and can join a special Cook with your Kids cooking seminar for families at the Ocean Park Aquarium. Here, kids will be able to discover the fun of good nutrition while enjoying the unique displays of the island’s freshwater and marine life.

Barbadian Restaurants

Whether looking for a romantic five-star restaurant, a beachfront café, or an Indian, Thai or Japanese eatery, Barbados has an endless number of dining options to suit every palate and budget.

Petra Roach, European Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, for the Barbados Tourism Authority, said, “A Taste of Barbados is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the world class culinary and restaurant scene that has emerged in Barbados which not only caters for all tastes and budgets but also offers a cuisine that can rival that produced in the very best restaurants across the globe.”

Bajan Cuisine

Bajan cuisine is a spicy combination of African, Asian and European influences. Bajan delicacies include pepperpot (a spicy stew) and pudding and souse (pickled meat and savoury sweet potato pudding). However, the Barbadian national dish is cou-cou and flying fish, reflecting the island’s passion for seafood (cou-cou being a cornmeal and okra dish). Cou-cou and flying fish may be sampled in almost any Barbadian restaurant.

The copyright of the article A Taste of Barbados International Food Festival in Latin American Culinary Travel is owned by Maddalena Delli. Permission to republish A Taste of Barbados International Food Festival in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.