Article by Adam Waxman.
In the Caribbean, food is more than sustenance, it’s storytelling.
Across the region, iconic ingredients take centre stage in vibrant festivals that blend heritage, hospitality and pure island joy. From the juicy abundance of the Nevis Mango Festival to the aromatic allure of the Jamaica Coffee Festival, the fire-grilled flair of the Cayman Islands Cookout to the tropical sweetness of the Bahamas Coconut Festival and the seaside indulgence of the Anguilla’s seafood festival—these gatherings showcase the flavours that define each destination, and celebrate the unique culture, creativity and community spirit of the islands.
Cayman Cookout
Cayman Islands
Exceptional flavours, celebrated chefs and a stunning seaside setting define Cayman Cookout at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.
A cookout without peer, the Cayman Islands attracts chefs, sommeliers, bartending champions, artists and talent from across the world of gastronomy. Eric Ripert, José Andrés and Emeril Lagasse are among a constellation of culinary stars who give a command performance of culinary theatre.
Located along Seven Mile Beach at the luxurious Ritz Carlton, it is known for its “barefoot elegance.” Fireworks light up the sky as we sit in billowing white tents on the manicured sandy beach. We swoon at intimate cooking demonstrations; master blenders teach us how to blend our own rum; sommeliers host wine tastings; there are gala dinners, unique “Grown in Cayman” island excursions, and chef-led dining events like the Barefoot BBQ on the beach; and we, laid-back, indulge in all the local specialties of this pristine paradise.
Blue Mountain Coffee Festival
Jamaica
Craving a true taste of Jamaica? Blue Café is worth a visit during the Blue Mountain Coffee Festival. Photo courtesy of Blue Café.
Next to rum, Jamaica’s greatest liquid asset is its rare, high-altitude Arabica coffee.
Grown in volcanic soil, it is prized for its smooth texture and non-bitter profile of floral, nutty, and chocolate notes. The coffee festival provides a brew-tiful opportunity for coffee excursions to explore coffee farms, dine along the picturesque Blue Mountain Culinary Trail for quintessential Jamaican cuisine with flavours not found anywhere else and, of course, shopping for premium local coffee and coffee-infused products.
The Jamaica Food & Drink Meet Street + The Market perks up the vibe with world class coffee paired with local cuisine, while the Farmers Trade Day—available by invitation only—offers workshops with the cognoscenti of Jamaica’s coffee industry. Don’t miss coffee seminars, product samples and gate prizes at the Festival Marketplace in Kingston’s lush Hope Gardens, or the Barista Competition, in which the crème de la crème of coffee afficionados flaunt their artistry for all coffeeholics to admire and be inspired. There is no substitute for tropical island coffee in paradise.
Nevis Mango Festival
Nevis
Mango lovers won’t want to miss this vibrant celebration of Nevis’ signature fruit. Photo courtesy of Nevis Tourism Authority.
Sweet and Juicy! Nevis is rich in both beauty and culture, and is the ideal location for growing over forty-four different types of succulent and delicious mangoes that proliferate from thousands of mango trees to create a mango lovers’ paradise.
The Mango Festival embraces the natural surplus of mangoes and offers a variety of activities around this ambrosial fruit. For the Love of Mangoes is culinary showcase of recipes inspired by the Nevisian mango for visitors to sample from the island’s top chefs. For a more personalized experience, the Supper Club offers a multi-course dinner curated by a Celebrity Chef, in which each dish highlights the vibrancy and versatility of the mango.
There’s even a Chef’s Masterclass to inspire your skills at home. The Passport Food Tour is like a bucket list of special mango cocktails and dishes from around the island. Collect as many stamps as you can! And the Pinney’s Beach Bar Crawl leads us along the shoreline for the most revitalizing mango cocktails in the world. Taste the imagination of chefs combined with the nectar of the Gods!
Festival Del Mar
Anguilla
Seafood lovers can savour grilled lobster and island flavour at Anguilla’s Festival Del Mar. Photo courtesy of the Anguilla Tourist Board.
Enchanted by an idyllic white halo of sand with laid-back vibes, we relish in the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” that is Anguilla, where chefs are endlessly creative, using spices and techniques from around the world.
Their Festival Del Mar is an immersion into the local merroir that the local chefs celebrate with panache. Set against the backdrop of the Island Harbour fishing village, the festival brings together live music from soca to reggae; aquatic competitions from swimming to deep-sea fishing and boat racing; artisanal art and crafts like jewelry, blown-glass, metal and woodwork. Of course, the highlight is fresh-caught seafood, and there are even culinary competitions featuring snapper and all sizes of lobster. It’s a deep dive into the island’s maritime spirit.
Pelican Point Coconut Festival
The Islands of The Bahamas
Try your hand at husking a coconut at the lively Pelican Point Coconut Festival, where island traditions take centre stage. Photo courtesy of the Bahamas/Tourism Today
Swap your Easter Eggs for Coconuts! One of the largest cultural events of The Bahamas, on Grand Bahama Island, is the coconut festival, which celebrates Bahamian culture through the sweet water and creamy meat of this nutrient-dense drupe.
What is a Coconut Barking Contest? It’s actually a competition to see who can remove the bark of the coconut the fastest. Watch in amazement! Live entertainment on the beach at Pelican Point, along with cultural performances and games, includes top local artists and Junkanoo groups. A vast range of coconut-infused dishes, from traditional Bahamian specialties to innovative selections span sweet to savoury and cocktails to curries. Lingering in the sand and wading in the ocean with a skewer of crunchy charred coconut shrimp in one hand and a refreshing Bahamian Gully Wash (fresh coconut water, gin, condensed milk) in the other, is a luxurious indulgence. Bring an appetite and a bathing suit!
Article by Adam Waxman. Adam Waxman is a freelance travel and wellness writer, and senior writer for DINE and Destinations magazine.
For over twenty-five years Adam has contributed to various publications in Canada, the US and Japan, including Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, enRoute, Dreamscapes, Nikkei Voice and Hollywood Reporter.
He has been a media liaison for Destination Toronto, Destination Ontario and sole Canadian member of the Japan Advisory Board for inbound tourism to Japan. Adam is also a New York-trained musical theatre actor, and has appeared on film and television, as well as stages from Off-Broadway in New York to the Stratford Festival.
