St. Croix Foundation Announces Chef & Event Line Up for 2017 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
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#1023 Market Street
Christiansted. Croix, VI
Phone 340-773-9898
Email:
Website: www.stxfoundation.org
Press Release
Contact: Deanna J. James, Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2017
Celebrity Chefs & Event Line Up Announced for
2017 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
Tickets on Sale for Star Studded Benefit Featuring Acclaimed Top Chefs Robyn Almodovar,
Facebook’s Tony Castellucci, James Beard Winner Sam Choy, George Reid, and local favorites William Desimone, Digby Stridiron, Ron Duprat and Negust Kaza,
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – March 23, 2017 –The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development announces the event lineup for the 2017St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, a culinary, wine and spirits festival held on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, from Friday, April 7th through Monday, April 10th. The weekend event series will consist of an impressive roster of guest chefs including well-known TV personalities, James Beard winners and corporate chefs. Guest chefs will participate in multiple events during the culinary series, working alongside students from the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) culinary program and St. Croix Central High School Cooking Class, as well as with local chefs. Through a deepening partnership with the Department of Tourism, the event also brings to the Territory a variety of travel writers, bloggers and media representatives who expand St. Croix’s national and international exposure as a culinary and cultural destination.
Funds raised from the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience support the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development and enables the Foundation to continue its high impact work in the areas of workforce development, public safety, public education, and economic development.
According to St. Croix Foundation Executive Director, Deanna James, “The Foundation’s theme for this year’s Food and Wine Experience, ‘Cultivating Community’, exemplifiesthe St. Croix Foundation’s commitment to holistic community development. Our annual benefit is about more than just food and wine – it is all about connecting our community and cultivating our collective potential. Focusing on education and civic leadership as vehicles for social transformation, the Foundation is leading the charge for building a healthy Community.” James continued, "Named one of the top 10 international food and wine events by Forbestravel.com, the series features St. Croix’s culinary talent, wine purveyors, rum distilleries, and a philanthropic spirit that is unique to our Community.”
This year’s line-up of guest chefs for the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience includes:
· George Reid – Executive Chef of The Four Seasons in Anguilla, Reid is also credited with developing Anguilla’s world-wide reputation for fine food and wine and was the former executive chef of Cap Jaluca.
· Robyn Almodovar –Executive Chef and owner of award winning Palate Party, Almodovar is a former winner of Food Network's CHOPPED and Cut Throat Kitchen
· Sam Choy –Author, James Beard winner, restauranteur, Iron Chef winner, TV personality, and “Godfather of Poke,” Sam Choy is the ambassador for breadfruit and Hawaiian cuisine
· Tony Castellucci –Global Executive Chef of Facebook, Castellucci’s culinary career spans serving on executive culinary teams at such corporate giants as Sun, GE, Lockheed Martin, Cisco, SAP, and Google.
· Negust Kaza –Owner of Kaza House, award winning member of the Virgin Islands Olympic Culinary Team, and Executive Chef at the St. Croix Yacht Club, Kaza also educates and promotes health and wellness to families across the island.
· Digby Stridiron– Executive Chef and Owner of balter restaurant, also named as Culinary Ambassador of the US Virgin Islands and the 2014-2015 Caribbean Chef of the Year, Stridiron is well-known for fusing creative cuisine with community
· Ron Duprat –A Bravo “Top Chef” competitor and now Renaissance’s own Top Chef, Duprat has career that spans from the Pelican Bay Foundation to the Montauk Yacht Club, and is a master at incorporating his own Haitian Creole influences with French-Asian Fusion cuisine.
· William Desimone – Owner of Billy D’s BBQ & Catering, Chef Billy D is a self-trained chef, restauranteur and co-founder of the Josef L. Desimone Giving the Dream Memorial Fund, which provides internship opportunities for culinary students from St. Croix's Career and Technical Education Center.
· Anton Döös, III –Culinary Arts Instructor at CTEC, Doos also serves as an Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Consultant on St. Croix, and has received awards as Teacher of the Year, best chef, best caterer and business man of the year.
Guest chefs of the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience participate in events that range from relaxed to elegant options for foodies and wine connoisseurs as guest wine makers and spirit companies pair their expertise at each event. The 2017 schedule of events is as follows:
Friday, April 7
· bond @ balter – a special invitation only reception held at balter restaurant for sponsors and national and local media, bond @ balter combines outstanding cocktails with appetizers from owners Chef Digby Stridiron and Sommelier Patrick Kralik. 11 AM
· Sunset BBQ on the Frederiksted Pier – the “ultimate Crucian BBQ and rum picnic,” the Sunset BBQ features mouth-watering delicacies and boasts a local line-up of fabulous chefs and culinary students from the St. Croix Educational Complex and Central High School. With over 10 rums ranging from Cruzan Rum to Mount Gay and Goslings, this truly is a community gathering to remember. 5:30 PM
· Cork & Fork Dinner – Chef George Reid is serving up a sumptuous menu that pairs every course with delectable wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. This intimate meal takes place at a historic home with a story on Constitution Hill and will boast stunning views and fabulous company. 5:30 PM
Saturday, April 8 – Wine in the Warehouse –All wine connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts will want to grab their passports for “Night Flights” at an all new Wine in the Warehouse. Located at Bohlke Airways’ exclusive jet hangar, this unforgettable wine tasting will take guests’ taste buds around the world and back with Southern Glazer’s extensive portfolio of fine wines from all over the globe. Coupled with the culinary genius of Renaissance’s own Top Chef, Ron Duprat, and renowned local restaurants, this event is not to be missed. 6 PM
Monday, April 10 – Gourmet Vintner Dinner - This lively dining experience features an all-star team of celebrity guest chefs including CHOPPED winner Robyn Almodovar, Facebook's Tony Castellucci, James Beard Winner Sam Choy, and St. Croix's own Negust Kaza. Guests will have a one of a kind experience as each chefs contributes to a delectable 4-course menu paired with renowned wines. With a gourmet themed auction and expert winemakers from Southern Glazer’s, the results always astound! 6 PM
“Despite St. Croix’s struggling economy, the Foundation is grateful to all the organizations and individuals that have continued to support their fundraising event in deeper ways, recognizing the impact of their investment on the quality of life of residents in our Community,” James stated. “Even more consequential this year is the fact that the Foundation is directly linking the sponsors of the event to its comprehensive and ambitious Community Development Agenda. We are so proud to report that every sponsorship dollar raised for this event is leveraged many times over and reinvested into the Community to support the Foundation’s Territory-wide mission of social and economic transformation,” James concluded.
The 2017 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience is made possible by countless chefs, volunteers, corporate citizens, and loyal attendees. The Foundation thanks the Experience's Platinum Sponsors the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Gold Sponsor, Crucian Point, as well as valued Sponsors Bohlke International Airways, TEAM Consultants, Jim & Connie Arena, St. Croix MRI, St. Croix Tourism, balter Restaurant, the Buccaneer, Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Cape Air, Catamaran Quest, Banco Popular, Centerline Car Rentals, DIAGEO USVI, GoToStCroix.com, Bank of St. Croix.
For information about, tickets, events, and sponsorship visithttp://www.stxfoodandwine.com or call Deanna James at the Foundation at 340-773-9898.