Top 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.