After a scaled-down BVI Food Fete last year following Hurricane Irma, Cindy Rosan-Jones is thrilled.
“This year, it’s caught on,” said the BVI Tourist Board events coordinator, who helps organise the series of culinary activities each November. “People are buying in. People are happy. They want us to do more.”
This year’s successes, she said, included Gourmet for a Cause at the Government House on Oct. 27, Taste of Tortola on Nov. 3 at Queen Elizabeth II Park, and the Jost Van Dyke Pork Festival on Nov. 11.
On Saturday the fete moved across the water, where residents sampled various delicacies at Taste of Virgin Gorda.
“Just over 100 people came from Tortola, and then we had the Virgin Gorda population, so we hit probably almost 400 people,” Ms. Rosan-Jones explained.
The event included 14 vendors, six of whom were chefs.
“Four of those were visiting chefs from Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey,” she said, adding, “Two of the chefs were actually coming back as a reunion for Rosewood Little Dix Bay: They wanted to play their part in BVI Food Fete and building the programme.”
Because the usual venue at Nail Bay was damaged in Hurricane Irma, the event was held for the first time in the large lawn at Toad Hall near The Baths.
“I’m glad we did, because each year the event continues to grow, and so I think we have outgrown Nail Bay,” Ms. Rosan-Jones said. “Each year it has been sold out, and last night it was packed.”
Performers included Arturo Tappin, VI Groove Project, It’s a Secret Band and Hardcore.
“It was a really good event — we loved the turnout — and I think 2019 is going to be spectacular,” she said. “It has given us energy to keep pushing forward.”
This weekend, the Food Fete moves to Anegada for the Lobster Festival on Saturday and Sunday.