The culinary capital of the Caribbean is without a doubt Barbados. Located in the north Atlantic, this island country is a popular tourist destination. The Barbados Food and Rum Festival gives foodies a perfect reason to voyage to this Caribbean oasis. Stimulate your sights as well as your taste buds with this fun event. The festival grows in size and popularity each year it is held. This year’s event will be the biggest one to date, making it a perfect trip for foodies.
This year marks the 9th year of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. It will begin on Thursday, October 18th and conclude on Sunday, October 21, 2018. The Festival Opening takes place at Oistins Bay Garden. The Signature Rum Event takes place at Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. The Dine Around event is on Saturday night, with many local restaurants participating. The event comes to an incredible close on Sunday with an afternoon of polo watching, rum cocktail sampling, and savory canapes.
Celebrity Chefs
The event attracts a variety of celebrity chefs each year. This year attendees will enjoy hobnobbing with Tom Aikens, one of the United Kingdom’s most acclaimed chefs. His acclaim is due to his innovative style and modern interpretation of French cuisine. His career has taken him from Pierre Koffman’s La Tante Claire in Chelsea to Pied à Terre in Charlotte Street, where he eventually became head chef. It was there that he became the youngest British chef ever to be awarded two Michelin stars. He was only 26. Tom Aikens celebrity appearances include Saturday Kitchen, Market Kitchen, The Wright Stuff, Iron Chef and Great British Menu.
Gourmet Safari Dinner Series
The Gourmet Safari Dinner Series is perfect for those who prefer a more elegant sit-down dining experience. This year the dinner series has grown from three restaurants to multiple standalone and hotel restaurants all over the island. You can enjoy special dishes, especially for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. Be sure to look for those menus at your favorite restaurants on the island! Tapestry Restaurant and Colony Club have both sold out already for the 2018 festival. There are still spots available at Daphne’s Restaurant and 246 Restaurant.
Events
You will want to visit the official festival website for a complete list of all of the events. Here are a few highlights that you will not want to miss:
- Night Out in Oistins: This free event is the official kick-off for the festival. The historic Oistins fishing village is where you can watch local chefs as they prepare fresh, grilled treats under the stars.
- Rum Extravaganza: This all-inclusive event will let you be pampered by local award-winning chefs. Enjoy unique hors-d’oeuvres, delicious aperitifs, and hand-crafted rum cocktails.
- Taste the Spirits of Polo: Enjoy watching an exciting game of polo while sampling an array of world-class cocktails and canapés.This all-inclusive event takes place at Holder’s Polo Club.
Rum’s Birthplace
Time flies when you’re having rum. This saying is very apt for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. What better way to ease into the spirit of island life than by sampling a variety of rum-based cocktails and beverages? Barbados is the birthplace of rum. The Mount Gay distillery was founded on the island in 1703 and is believed to be the oldest rum distillery found anywhere in the world. Foodies and rum connoisseurs appreciate Barbadian Rum, and the festival offers a wide variety to sample and take home. Mount Gay Rum, Foursquare Rum, Cockspur Rum, and St. Nicholas Abbey Rum are some of the local brands at the festival.
So, will you be attending the Barbados Food and Rum Festival this year? For more information about traveling to Barbados, see our article about our three favorite Barbados resorts for luxury living.
