International flavours will spice up the local food scene during the new BVI Food and Wine Festival next April, organiser Abby O’Neal said during an Oct. 24 launch at Prime Restaurant in Road Town.
The week-long festival is scheduled to feature chefs from around the world alongside some of the Virgin Islands’ most talented food finessers.
The April 15-21 line-up is packed with multiple daily events that include cooking demonstrations, cocktail classes and tasting courses.
“We think that we’ve put together a great roster of events and talent that will fully entertain your tastebuds during the festival,” Ms. O’Neal said.
She also took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new foundation honouring her late parents, noting that one of the main events will raise money for culinary students. Events are being offered at various price points, and information will be posted at the website bvifoodandwine.com.
Honouring the O’Neals
The star event will be the Ralph T. and Edris O’Neal Foundation Dinner, which will feature an “international chef of significant acclaim” and a cooking competition for students at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s culinary school, Ms. O’Neal said.
Leading up to the event, students will have an opportunity to work with the mystery chef and form part of their culinary team that evening.
Half the proceeds from ticket sales will go toward supporting the culinary programme in honour of the O’Neals, Ms. O’Neal said.
Reverend Edris O’Neal, former first lady, died in May 2020, just six months after the death of her husband, former Premier and Chief Minister Ralph O’Neal.
“My parents and I often spoke of starting a family foundation once they retired,” Abby O’Neal said Tuesday. “Unfortunately, they passed away before that could come to fruition, so I felt responsible for organising it in their memory and in their honour to carry on the good works that they’ve done.”
Tony Roberts, the foundation’s chairman, said at the launch that the organisation aims to continue supporting the O’Neals’ legacy of championing education in the territory.
“We all need some sort of structure in our lives, and education can do that,” he said.
The dinner will be held on April 20 at Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda.
Grand Tasting Village
Among the other activities that week, Mr. Roberts said the Grand Tasting Village at Nanny Cay on April 18 will be an event to watch.
The village, he said, will “encompass as many restauranteurs and restaurants as possible,” as well as a mixology contest and tastings from various vendors.
Ms. O’Neal said the public will also have an opportunity to vote for the winner of a live cooking competition for culinary students.
“The idea behind forming the BVI Food and Wine Festival was really to highlight the BVI to the world,” Mr. Roberts said, adding that the event will also offer residents opportunities to try new types of cuisine.
The chefs
The stage is set for both VI and international chefs to shine.
One of the featured chefs will be Ariq Flax Clarke, who celebrates Caribbean cuisine on charter boats in the territory and has won the annual BVI Junior Chef competition. Now, he is the co-owner of Humble Buzz Honey Works and has established Flax & Co. Catering Services.
Another chef, Josie Smith Malave, is known for appearing on the reality show “Top Chef ” and winning Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen.” She owns Bubbles & Pearls champagne and oyster bar in Florida. Bringing a French flair will be Michelin-Starred Chef Francis Reynard, who describes his style of cooking as “French classic with a world influence and a New York state of mind,” according to a press release.
Chef Michael Ferraro has shown his talents in a variety of New York kitchens, and he has appeared on shows including “Iron Chef America,” “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay,” and “Bar Rescue.”
Local talent
VI chefs on the line-up include HLSCC Culinary Centre Director Chef Neil Cline, who has been an educator in the VI for 25 years. Since the 2017 hurricanes wrecked several of his businesses, he has gone on to open two new restaurants. He was also the first Virgin Islander to cook in the James Beard House in New York.
Also featured will be Prime Restaurant Head Chef Muchamad “Opick” Taufik, who brings his background from Bali to the table and has cooked in various hotels around the world.
Annual event?
Ms. O’Neal said she hopes the festival will become an event that attendees look forward to enjoying annually.
“Hopefully every year there will be different chefs that will come,” Mr. Roberts added.