The Barbados Food and Rum Festival has firmly established itself as the Caribbean’s premier gastronomic extravaganza, proudly clinching a prestigious international accolade.
Reigning supreme on the culinary stage
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, revealed the festival’s latest triumph during a recent media reception at the serene ZaZen Villa in Bathsheba.
He announced that the Barbados Food and Rum Festival had secured the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival of 2023,” a distinction conferred upon it by the esteemed World Culinary Awards.
This announcement unfolded amid the splendor of a special awards ceremony held in the vibrant city of Dubai.
Affirming culinary capital status
In his address, Minister Gooding-Edghill declared, “Now when we say we are the culinary capital of the Caribbean, we can add the best culinary festival in the Caribbean.”
He expressed gratitude to the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) and the talented chefs and bartenders who have been integral to the festival’s success. In particular, he commended their relentless dedication to creating tantalizing dishes and crafting exquisite cocktails, which have elevated the festival to a world-class stature.
Unveiling spectacular growth
Aprille Thomas, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications at the BTMI, beamed with pride as she reflected on the festival’s remarkable growth in the current year.
She emphasized the expansion of the culinary extravaganza, noting that several venues had doubled their capacity.
Embracing local and international appeal
Thomas further disclosed that the festival had captured the attention of both locals and visitors alike, with ticket sales showcasing a healthy balance between the two groups.
She provided an insightful breakdown, explaining, “The Chef Classics which are cooking demonstrations, we have seen a split with 56 per cent of visitors attending the Chef Classics; the Junior Chef Cook Off competition, 80 per cent visitors purchased tickets for that; the Rise and Rum Breakfast Beach Party, 33 per cent are visitors [as] ticket holders; the Liquid Gold Fest, 24 per cent of visitors are ticket holders; and lastly, the Rum Route on Friday night, a whopping 93 per cent of those ticket holders are visitors.”
“This shows us that we have created a festival that people want to fly into Barbados for and want to be a part of…. After COVID, we had no idea what was going to happen next, but we took a chance on an idea that we had and it’s just so amazing to see it blossom,” Thomas added.
The Barbados Food and Rum Festival, with its newfound acclaim as the Caribbean’s premier culinary event, continues to solidify its reputation as a must-attend late summer spectacle, drawing gastronomy enthusiasts from around the globe to this picturesque Caribbean island.
