BARBADOS AND AMERICAN EXPRESS PUBLISHING ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR FIRST ANNUAL BARBADOS FOOD & WINE AND RUM FESTIVAL Canadian Chef Rob Feenie Joins Celebrity Chefs Tom Colicchio, Marcus Samuelsson,Ming Tsai and Tim Love to Headline November Festival
TORONTO (September 22, 2010) – The first annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival will be the culinary event of the season as the beautiful island of Barbados in partnership with American Express Publishing’s Travel + Leisure, FOOD & WINE, Departures and Executive Travel magazine brands, unveil the schedule of events for the four-day epicurean extravaganza taking place from November 19 – 22, 2010.
Canadian chef, Rob Feenie, has just been added to the already exciting list of international chefs who will delight visitors with their culinary offerings. Chef Feenie, of Vancouver’s Cactus Club Cafe, is the author of three best selling cookbooks and stars in the long-running cooking series New Classics with Chef Rob Feenie on The Food Network. He is arguably Canada’s first true celebrity chef and notably is Canada’s first and only Iron Chef champion.
The Festival will also feature culinary masters Tom Colicchio, Marcus Samuelsson, Ming Tsai, Fergus Henderson and Tim Love who will bring their collective expertise through chef demonstrations, tasting events and interactive sessions. Wine seminars and events will be curated by FOOD & WINE Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle and wine expert Anthony Giglio. Guests will also get the chance to experience the talents of local Barbadian chefs including John Hazzard, Peter Edey and Henderson Butcher, who help make Barbados the first and only Zagat-rated island in the Caribbean.
The world renowned experts will exhibit their mastery through chef demonstrations and wine seminars at the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in Barbados. The Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel, Canadian-owned hotel and resort group, will host Tim Love and Marcus Samuelsson in their newly renovated facilities as they teach cooking techniques and interact with visitors.
Additional highlights from the first annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival include:
Moonlight Magic: Hilton BarbadosFriday, November 19, 7:00pm – 10:00pm$75.00The Festival kicks off at the iconic Hilton Barbados where guests will have the opportunity to mingle with the Festival’s headline chefs, while tasting renowned rums blended in Barbados, outstanding world wines and a selection of other spirits at an evening reception.
Rhythms of Rum Cuisine at Mount Gay: Mount Gay Visitors CenterSaturday, November 20, 12:45pm – 2:45pm$75.00With over 300 years of rum-crafting traditions, Mount Gay is the rum that invented rum. Guests will learn the history of rum-making and sample a variety of fine blends in the company of Food & Wine Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle. He will also discuss rum and food pairings, while guests enjoy a sumptuous rum-infused meal, prepared by a top local chef.
Ambrosia: Savour Barbados: Lion Castle Polo EstateSaturday, November 20, 7:00pm – 11:00pm$100.00The Festival’s showcase event will featuring a culinary sampling from festival headliners Marcus Samuelsson, Fergus Henderson, Ming Tsai, Rob Feenie and Tim Love, alongside some of the finest local chefs from Barbados including John Hazzard, whose reputations have helped to put Barbados on the culinary map.
Setting Sail with Rob Feenie: Tiami Catmaran Sunday, November 21, 2010 – 10:00am – 2:00pm$100.00 Sail the tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea with Rob Feenie, one of our headline chefs for a four hour cruise. Be caressed by the tropical winds, swim with sea turtles and relax. Enjoy champagne mimosas or a special rum cocktail created by Rob and crown it off with a delicious lunch.
Tom Colicchio at the Cliff: The Cliff RestaurantSunday, November 21, 6:30pm – 11:00pm$250.00The Cliff enjoys a reputation beyond compare as one of the island’s finest restaurants. This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of this special evening where acclaimed chef Tom Colicchio’s innovative and creative cuisine is paired with the spectacular setting and amazing talent of the Cliff.
For a full schedule of events and information on purchasing tickets for the Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival please visit www.foodwinerum.com or www.visitbarbados.org.
Getting there: Air Canada offers daily direct flights weekly from Toronto to Barbados and one weekly direct flight from Montreal. Flights are on sale at www.aircanada.com. WestJet has service to Barbados with five non-stop flights weekly from Toronto. Book online at www.westjet.com.
About Barbados:
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. Rated as one of the world’s sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados’ Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travelers. Barbados is also the first and only Zagat-rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is an ideal stage for world-class events and in collaboration with American Express Publishing Corporation, Barbados will host its first annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival in November 2010. The country has also hosted numerous athletic championships, including the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via newly-launched Jet Blue, American Airlines, Delta and US Airways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards’ in its Top 100 Destinations category. Follow the Barbados beat and catch up on the latest news via the Barbados Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/barbadosbeat and Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbadostourism. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1.800.268.9122 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1.800.268.9122 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
About American Express Publishing Corporation:American Express Publishing Corporation is an authoritative content company primed to deliver lifestyle expertise that informs choices, enriches perspective and empowers affluent and accomplished people — and the businesses that serve them — to make decisions and lead extraordinary lives. A wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company, American Express Publishing brands include Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Departures, and Executive Travel. The company also produces a variety of travel, cooking, wine, time management, and financial books and products, digital content, luxury-marketing events and custom print and digital programs for clients.