Anguilla’s inaugural culinary event, Extraordinary Eats! ended on April 28th , and has been hailed as a resounding success. The series of events, which ran from April 14th through 28th, incorporated a number of culinary experiences and activities to display Anguilla as the acclaimed culinary capital of the Caribbean.
The grand finale of the two-week celebration of Anguillian food, culture and the culinary arts was the five-course dinner and wine pairing event, Anguilla’s Chefs Extraordinaires. The themed event, showcasing Men in Black and Ladies in Red, celebrated three Anguillian International Chefs, who were paired with members of the local Culinary team.
Kerth Gumbs, Head Chef at the prestigious Ormer Mayfair in London; Tarisa Reid, Chef de Partie at the London based Compass Group; and Mtima Daniels, Sous Chef at the legendary Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles, were paired with the Anguilla National Culinary Team headed by Kelston Connor. Together the team created a rich gastromanic experience in an atmosphere of lively entertainment by Boss and the Horsepower Band, hosted by da’Vida Restaurant in Crocus Bay.
“We are delighted that Extraordinary Eats in its inaugural year was a resounding success. It shows the commitment of the Anguilla Tourist Board, and the Ministry of Tourism, to develop and create opportunities that will enhance the awareness of Anguilla and build on our well-deserved reputation as an exceptional culinary destination,” commented Mrs. Donna Banks, Chairperson of the ATB. “We are also thankful to our many partners who have overwhelmingly supported Extraordinary Eats in the form of prix fixe menus and other areas, as we set the foundation to build a truly extraordinary culinary scene in Anguilla,” Banks continued.
Earlier activities of Extraordinary Eats included the Culinary School Talks where the international chefs, and members of the local culinary team, shared their experiences with the culinary class at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School; passing on much-needed advice and encouragement to assist Anguilla’s next generation of extraordinary chefs in becoming successful both locally and internationally.
Investments were also made by inviting international journalists, from North America, to participate in some of the activities in an effort to generate international awareness of the diversity and rich culinary culture Anguilla offers. As part of the journalists’ overall experience, they also participated in visiting local farms where they received firsthand knowledge of how farmers in Anguilla adapt and uniquely grow crops despite the many challenges.
The journalists’ experiences of Anguilla also included a culinary journey on Friday, April 26th, as they participated in the Taste of the Strip event. This experience engaged them to delight their palates in the unique and authentic samples from participating Extraordinary Eats partners.
Other highlights of the two-week culinary arts celebration of Extraordinary Eats were Festival del Mar, the annual celebration of all things from the sea that took place over the Easter weekend in Island Harbour Village, on April 20th and 21st; and the exciting Pub Crawl with Lively Island Tours on Monday, April 15th, which took guests coast to coast, to Anguilla’s most popular beach and roadside bars, with exclusive drink specials and a fun pub crawl bingo.
