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Chef Antonia Lofaso to Sizzle in St. Croix
Chef
Lofaso to compete in a "Iron Chef, Top Chef, Island Chef"
Event
April 14-18, 2009
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands - 2009 - Chef
Antonia Lofaso will participate in a series of fundraising
events during the 2009 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
in the US Virgin Islands. Chef Lofaso will be a guest judge,
be a guest chef at a top island restaraunt and compete in a
"Iron Chef, Top Chef, Island Chef" event where she,
Iron Chef Kevin Rathbun and Island Chef Leslie Gumb will all
be given the same ingredients and be asked to create their magic
in less than 30 minutes. The 2009 St. Croix Food &
Wine Experience is April 14 through
April 18. For more information visit www.StCroixFoodandWine.com.
"Chef
Lofaso is incredibly talented and we are thrilled she is supporting
our efforts on St. Croix," said Katherine Pugliese, one
of the founders of the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience.
This will be the first trip to the US Virgin Islands for Lofaso,
who fiercely competed on season four of Bravo's Emmy-nominated
show "Top Chef."
Born
in Long Island and raised in Los Angeles, Antonia Lofaso received
her Associate's Degree in New York and enrolled at the French
Culinary Institute to further develop the skills. She returned
to Los Angeles and joined the culinary team at Spago under Executive
Chef Lee Hefter, whom she credits as her greatest culinary influence.
She most recently served as an Executive Chef for SBE's French-inspired
bistro Foxtail. Lofaso says cooking is one of her greatest passions
and her greatest achievement is her 9 year old daughter, Xea.
To see Antonia and Xea on the Today Show goto http://www.antonialofaso.com.
Since 2001, A Taste of St. Croix has celebrated
the flavor of the U.S. Virgin Islands by bringing together culinary
artisans from more than 50 local restaurants on St. Croix and
welcoming celebrated chefs and vintners from across the United
States. The event was immediately successful and has expanded
into a weeklong series of food and wine events called the St.
Croix Food & Wine Experience. In 2008, visiting vintners
included Bob Foley from Foley Wines, Paul Hoffman of Medusa
Wines, Joel Peterson from Ravenswood, Carroll Kemp of Red Car
Wines, and Kent Rosenblum from Rosenblum Cellars. Guest chefs
included Rocco DiSpirito, Kevin Rathbun, Robbin Haas, Gerry
Klaskala and Richard Reddington.
About The St. Croix Foundation
Proceeds from The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
are donated to The St. Croix Foundation, a
non-profit organization focused on community revitalization,
economic development, youth programs, education and additional
needs in the community. The culinary event has raised almost
$500,000 for the Foundation over the past seven years.
For more information visit www.stxfoundation.org.