A Taste of St. Croix

Overview
Since 2001, A Taste of St. Croix has celebrated the unique spirit and flavor of the U.S. Virgin Islands by pooling culinary artisans from more than 50 local restaurants and eateries on St. Croix. The event highlights the diverse and delectable cuisine and culture of St. Croix with its influences from all over the Caribbean and the world. Simply put, A Taste of St. Croix is elegance, art, culture, laughter, and a spectacular good time.

Since its inception, the event has featured a myriad of island dishes from haute cuisine to down home cooking. Examples of scrumptious delights are breadfruit tostones with tuna tartar, creamy Caribbean lobster bisque, conch fritters, Johnny cakes and soursop mousse. To compliment the delectable food, high-end wines representing producers from all over the world are also served. In 2006, attendees at A Taste of St. Croix experienced the luxury of tasting wines from Ponzi Vineyard, Worthy Vineyards, Rutherford Hill and Paul Hobbs Vineyards.

History
Started in 2001, A Taste of St. Croix is the brainchild of two local restaurateurs, Katherine Pugliese and Kelly Odom proprietors of Bacchus and Tutto Bene, respectively, who sought to highlight the diverse and delectable cuisine of St. Croix with its global influences. These two philanthropic-minded individuals also believed that as a fundraiser, A Taste of St. Croix should positively impact local restaurant owners and the community. The St. Croix Foundation was selected as the recipient of the proceeds from the event. A Taste of St. Croix has raised almost $200,000 for the Foundation over the past six years.

Judging
A highly qualified panel of judges sample and vote on each food entry, making the event all the more entertaining and enticing as entrants compete in a variety of categories from best local taste to best presentation. A Taste of St. Croix has been host to chef judges from nearby islands: St. John, St. Thomas, Vieques, and St. Maarten, as well as, a San Juan food and travel columnist and a judge from Food & Wine magazine. Renowned chefs such as Michael Ponti from Commander's Palace Restaurant and Wayne Nish of New York's premier dining establishment, the March Restaurant, have privileged the event with their judicious eye. Additionally, wine master Chris Jones and TV-2's Best Bites hostess, Jessica Cuyler, have also honored the event with their discerning expertise.

The Week of "Feastivities"
Satellite events during the week of A Taste of St. Croix showcase superior wines and culinary brilliance for a limited number on participants. Typical events include renowned wine-makers and talented chefs serving signature dishes paired with extraordinary wines. Past participants have included, Heidi Petersen Barrett and Holly Barrett, Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars in Napa Valley, chef Don Nolan and Jeff Meyers, from Montevina Winery in California, and Maria Ponzi of Ponzi Vineyards, in Oregon who brought Chef George Reid from the #1 hotel in the Caribbean, Cap Juluca, Anguilla.
As the preeminent culinary event in the Caribbean, A Taste of St. Croix has grown in such popularity that the affordable $75 per person tickets sell out in one day. The seventh annual A Taste of St. Croix will be held on April 19th, 2007, at the Divi Carina Bay Resort from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. and is open to the general public.
Beneficiary

All proceeds from A Taste of St. Croix 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. For more information visit www.stxfoundation.org.