The Barbados Food and Rum Festival has once again claimed the prestigious title of the Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival. The announcement was made at the 5th Annual World Culinary Awards held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The World Culinary Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry through its annual awards programme. World Culinary Awards is the sister event of World Travel Awards, itself inaugurated in 1994.
This marks the second year in a row that the festival has been recognised for its culinary excellence on the global stage. The award highlights the festival’s commitment to elevating the island’s diverse offerings while strengthening its tourism product.
Culinary Capital of the Caribbean
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) is the entity responsible for the production of the festival. Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Franklin, noted that the annual Food and Rum festival, which showcases the island’s talented chefs and mixologists, continues to position Barbados as a leading destination for culinary experiences.
“We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second consecutive year. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, from our talented chefs and mixologists to our partners and sponsors,” CEO Franklin stated.
She added: “This recognition not only celebrates our unique culinary heritage but also reinforces Barbados as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.”
Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2024
The 2024 edition of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival will be held from Thursday, October 24, to Sunday, October 27. Described as ‘the Ultimate Foodie Dream Weekend’, it promises to be even more enticing, with a dynamic lineup of culinary events, including Liquid Gold Feast, Rise & Rum Breakfast Beach Party, Rum Route, Chef Classics, Oistins Under the Stars, Culture of Cuisine Talks, and the first ever Rum Night. The festival will feature local and international culinary talent, as well as young aspiring chefs.
This year’s festival also included the family-oriented Bajan Fair, which was held yesterday.
Feed the Future
Under the theme “Feed the Future”, the festival’s goal is to invest in the next generation of culinary talent through the Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition. The competition creates developmental and training opportunities for young aspiring chefs as they compete against each other for the title of Junior Chef Champion.
This year, 21-year-old Omari Layne was the winner of the competition, receiving a scholarship for an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts at the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute, an internship at one of Barbados’ premium fine dining restaurants, as well as BBD 3,000.
As the festival continues to grow, it remains a key ingredient in Barbados’ efforts to enhance its global appeal as a premier culinary destination. (PR/GIS)
