The Food & Wine and Rum Festival
Usually spanning 4 days in the month of November, this world class festival has been hosted by Barbados since November 2010. It gives persons, locals and tourists alike, the opportunity to taste the delicious cuisine prepared by a number of celebrity chefs (local and international) and also sample some exquisite wines showcased by experts in the field. Some of the more popular chefs to have participated at the most recent festival are Chef Tyler Florence and Chef Anne Burrell who have showcased their talents on the Food Network, and Chef Marcus Samuelsson who participated in the preparation of the first state dinner of President Barack Obama in 2009.This culinary festival aims to provide the best and most complementary pairs of food, wine, other drinks and entertainment. The chefs and experts at the various seminars at the Food & Wine and Rum festival highlight that the best combination of food and wine is more than matching the colour of the meat to the colour of the wine. One must know how to identify distinct flavors and ascertain what aspects in the food complement specific wines. Not only does the festival provide the opportunity for persons to sample some of the best dishes prepared by the best chefs, but persons can also watch the chefs display their skills at some of the best hotels and restaurants across the island, including the Cliff restaurant and the Hilton Resort.
With regards to the wine aspect of the festival, seminars are led by the most renowned experts in the field. And of course, the best way to learn about wine is to sample it repeatedly! Meanwhile, rum has been an integral aspect of Barbadian culture and history for over 350 years. Therefore, it is fitting that an aspect of this lovely culinary showcase be a tour of the island’s legendary rum distilleries to learn of their history. Barbadian rum has a reputation as some of the best, finest, silkiest rum anywhere in the world. So, persons who attend are invited to sample, sample and sample some more!
Additionally, the festival is not only about tasting great food, wine and rum. There are interactive sessions allowing for questions to the experts, and opportunities to purchase books from the chefs.
The events at the festival are as follows:
Cooking demonstrations
Wine and champagne tasting
Rum tasting
Parties
Rum trails
Seminars
Showcases
Community events
Food trails (first offered at the 2014 Festival)
One attendee at the 4th annual Food & Wine and Rum festival, Emma Liasides wrote an article in January 2014 about her experience. She noted how the festival is a reflection of the importance of food, fine wine and rum to the island and one “can’t help but get swept up in the island’s proud passion…” The same article featured an excerpt from a brief interview with one of the chefs, Marcus Samuelsson of New York. Mr. Samuelsson stated that every year the festival exceeds his expectations as it gets better and better. When asked what he liked most about Barbados he said the people and the food culture. “Barbados has such a unique mix of people and food that it is hard not to feel at home”, he said.
The Food & Wine and Rum festival is a culinary master class not to be missed. Whether you come for the food, the drinks or just the experience of being surrounded by world class chefs, it is an experience of a lifetime held right here on the sandy shores of Barbados. Book a flight and come down for the next festival!
For more information on the last or the upcoming festival visit www.foodwinerum.com
