For more information about the chefs, please click here.

Celebrity Guest Chefs Announced for the 2012 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience

An award-winning group of celebrity chefs including Sue Zemanick, Merlin Verrier, Roberto Trevino, Ana Sortun, Orlando Santos, Evelyn Paul, Howie Kleinberg, Eric Greenspan and Govind Armstrong will be participating in the 2012 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience (April 17-22, 2012). They will be participating in events including wine dinners, cooking classes, and competitions. For details visit http://www.StCroixFoodandWine.com

Chefs Theo Gumbs (St. Thomas), Michael Ferraro (NY) and Roberto Trevino (Puerto Rico)

at the 2011 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience.

Voted one of the top ten food and wine events in the world, the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience attracts visitors, acclaimed wine makers and celebrity chefs.

(PRWEB) December 12, 2011

The 12th annual St. Croix Food & Wine Experience (April 17 – 22, 2012) is proud to announce the participation of an award-winning group of celebrity chefs including Sue Zemanick, Merlin Verrier, Roberto Trevino, Ana Sortun, Orlando Santos, Evelyn Paul, Howie Kleinberg, Eric Greenspan and Govind Armstrong. This sun-soaked celebration brings together local chefs, celebrity chefs, distinguished winemakers and wineries, for five days of culinary bliss in paradise. Events include wine dinners, a fun-filled competition between celebrity and island chefs, cooking classes for kids, an oceanfront food and wine tasting event, wine seminars and more. A complete list of events is available at http://www.stcroixfoodandwine.com/events.

Ticket prices range from $50 per person for a single event to $5,000 for an all-access VIP sponsor pass for two guests. To purchase tickets to the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, or for information on events, guest chefs and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.StCroixFoodandWine.com or call 340-773-9898. Tickets to A Taste of St. Croix, held on Thursday night, go one sale in March. All other tickets are available for purchase in advance. Funds raised from the events support the St. Croix Foundation and other non-profit and educational organizations.

The 2012 Celebrity Guest Chefs include:

Govind Armstrong (Los Angeles) – Govind Armstrong made his mark with his Table 8 and 8oz Burger Bar restaurants in Los Angeles and Miami. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, O Magazine, and People’s 50 Most Beautiful People issue. He authored “Small Bites, Big Nights: Seductive Little Plates for Intimate Occasions and Lavish Parties,” is a consultant chef to Air New Zealand, on Macy’s culinary council, and a guest chef for cruise lines. He is expanding 8oz Burger nationwide and developing Post & Beam in Los Angeles.

Anthony Giglio  – Is one of the most entertaining wine authorities on the planet. He is a journalist, sommelier, educator, author and raconteur who has written several books, including three editions of the annual FOOD & WINE Wine Guide review of 1,000+ wines; five editions of the enormously popular Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide, and his highly-regarded first book, Cocktails in New York. Throughout his career Anthony has attracted countless fans and admirers nationally, all of whom appreciate his sense of humor as much as they do his insight and his perspective, which is that wine is best regarded as a pleasure, not a problem. Giglio is currently a wine correspondent for CBS News Radio as well as the wine columnist for La Cucina Italiana, the American edition of Italy’s most prestigious magazine dedicated to gastronomy. Giglio is the longtime “Online Sommelier” for the FOOD & WINE Connoisseur Club newsletter, as well as for Departures Reserve Wine Club. He is also the resident “sensualist” blogger at TheImprovisedLife.com, as well as the official wine blogger for ItalianMade.com. Giglio has written for numerous publications, including Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, New York, Esquire, Details, Robb Report, Worth, Every Day with Rachael Ray and Parade. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, and is an occasional guest on American Public Media’s “The Splendid Table – the show for people who love to eat,” with Lynne Rossetto Kasper.

Eric Greenspan (Los Angeles) – Eric Greenspan is the chef and owner of The Foundry and The Roof in Los Angeles, California. Greenspan, co-host of A&E’s “Fix This Kitchen”, has been featured on several television shows such as “Best Thing I Ever Ate”, “The Traveler’s Guide to Life”, was a contestant on Food Network’s reality culinary competition series “The Next Iron Chef” and triumphed against Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef America”. Eric has also served as a guest judge or consultant on “Bar Rescue”, “Hell’s Kitchen”, “Extreme Chef” and “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”. Eric graduated with a Diplomme de Cuisine Superior in 1998 from Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris. He has worked with David Bouley, Rocco Despirito, and Alain Ducasse, and Ferran Adria.

Howie Kleinberg (Miami) – Known for his star turn on Bravo’s Miami season of Top Chef, Howie Kleinberg is the owner and chef of Bulldog Barbecue and Bulldog Burger in Miami. Kleinberg’s culinary education started at Johnson & Wales University and he has worked with award-winning chefs such as Mark Militello at Mark’s South Beach, Tim Andriola at Timo, E. Michael Reidt at Wish and Michael Bloise at Tantra, and as part of the The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne’s opening team. Kleinberg has participated in the annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival since 2007.

Evelyn Paul (Atlanta) – Born on St. Lucia, Evelyn Paul relocated to the USA to attend the Peter Kump Culinary Arts School. While in NYC, she worked at cutting-edge restaurants including Match, Indochine and Thom. She returned to the Caribbean as the full-time private chef in the US Virgin Islands. She has trained with notable chefs including Douglas Rodriguez, Gary Robbins and Jonathan Eisman. She has appeared on CBS Atlanta, Fox TV Atlanta and in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jezebel, Daily Candy, The Atlantan and more.

Orlando Santos (Pittsburgh) – Born on St. Croix and a graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, Orlando trained in the classical and contemporary art of pastries and artisanal chocolates at Johnson & Wales. He is on the upcoming season of Top Chef Just Desserts and was on Food Network Challenge: Sugar Destinations. He is on the USVI team that will compete in the Culinary Olympics in Germany in 2012. He is the owner and Pastry Chef of Orlando’s Chocolate Treasures in Pittsburgh, PA, where he lives.

Ana Sortun (Boston) – James Beard winner and owner of Oleana in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ana Sortun has been called one of the country’s “best creative fusion practitioners.” Sortun’s cookbook, SPICE; Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean, was nominated for Best Cookbook by the James Beard Foundation and is a best seller according to the Boston Globe and LA Times. Ana competed on Top Chef Masters and has participated in the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience in 2011 and 2012.

Roberto Treviño (Puerto Rico) – Roberto Treviño has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, Bon Appétit and top culinary TV shows. He battled Mario Batali on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, has prepared a dinner at the James Beard House and is the chef/owner of the fabulous Budatai restaurant, El Barril, Bar Gitano, and, newly opened in 2011, Casa Lola, all located in Puerto Rico. He has participated in the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience in the past as can be seen here.

Merlin Verrier (Chicago) – Haling Santa Cruz, CA, Merlin Verrier’s earliest memories are of the incredible foodstuffs California is known for. His love of food led him to enroll in the prestigious Western Culinary Institute in Portland, OR. Upon graduation, Merlin traveled to Chicago to work for celebrated chef Graham Elliot and quickly moved up the ranks, earning the title of executive chef and director of operations for the company. Merlin now oversees the gourmet sandwich shop Grahamwich, assists with culinary operations at Lollapalooza, and is working on the opening of Elliot’s new bistro concept. His thirst for adventure has taken Merlin from Japan to South America drawing inspiration from every place he has visited.

Sue Zemanick (New Orleans) – Sue Zemanick’s accolades started at a young age. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 2001. After working in Oceana in New York, Zemanick moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2003. She began working at the city’s famed Commander’s Palace before moving to Gautreau’s in 2004, where she was named executive chef in 2005. In 2008 she was selected as a Food & Wine “Top 10 Best New Chefs,” and named “Chef of the Year” by New Orleans Magazine and one of “5 Chefs to Watch” by Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine. She was a Finalist for James Beard’s “Rising Star Chef” Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Zemanick competed on Season 3 (2011) of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters.

About the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience showcases the diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The multi-day event includes gourmet dinners, wine seminars, wine auctions, and the annual culinary competition, A Taste of St. Croix. The culinary event series is the major fundraiser of the year for the St. Croix Foundation. The fundraiser also supports direct efforts to increase St. Croix tourism, culinary education and scholarship support. The event was started in 2001 by restaurant owners Katherine Pugliese of Eat@CaneBay, and Kelly Odom of Tutto Bene, and is recognized as the pre-eminent food and wine event in the Caribbean. For more information visit http://www.stcroixfoodandwine.com.

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. For more information visit http://www.stxfoundation.org.

###

April 17 – Tutto Bene Gourmet Vintner Dinner
April 18 – Wine Dinners, Wine Seminars, Chef Competition
April 19 – A Taste of St. Croix
April 20 – Cork & Fork Dinners, Sunset BBQ
April 21 – Kids Cooking Classes, Wine in the Warehouse
April 22 – Cuisine on the Green Golf Tournament

See what you missed in 2011 by visiting our event photo albums on Facebook here. Don’t forget to like us!

A Taste of St. Croix 2011 WINNERS

Appetizer

1^st Beachside Café at Sandcastle on the Beach
2^nd The Galleon
3^rd Bacchus

Entrée

1^st Tavern 1844
2^nd The Galleon
3^rd Duggan’s Reef

Dessert

1^{st – TIE-} Sweetface Chocolate /  Starfish Patisserie
2^nd Jaccar Organic and Natural Sorbets
3^rd Tie- The Bistro  / Schooner Bay Market

Soup/Stew

1^st The Palms at Pelican Cove
2^nd Dashi
3^rd Shanti Shawa Vital Ital Experience

Local Fare

1^st Rowdy Joe’s Northshore Eatery
2^nd Annie’s Catering
3^rd USVI Hotel & Tourism Culinary Team

Vegetarian

1^st St. Croix Central High School After School Cooking Class
2^nd Rowdy Joe’s Northshore Eatery
3^rd Shanti Shawa Vital Ital Experience

Beverage

1^st St. Croix Libation Society
2^nd Carambola Golf Club
3^rd Empress Fresh Foods

Best Presentation
Lori’s Blue Water Terrace

Honorable Mention:
Annie’s Catering

People’s Choice Award
Rumrunners

Runner up: Tutto Bene

Saturday, March 26th at 10:00a.m.

All event tickets available on line.

A Taste of St. Croix ONLINE tickets only available to non-Virgin Islands residents. This will be checked, your tickets will be cancelled and refunded if you have a V.I. address.

Two locations on St. Croix:

Sunshine Mall (west) and Premier Wine & Spirits (east)

One location on St. Thomas:

Urban Threads (St. Thomas)

***limit 4 tickets per person****

—

Be early, we sell out quickly.

See you there!

SUNDAY, APRIL10
Cuisine on the Green Golf Tournament at Carambola.

Start a day of golf on St. Croix at the fruit juice and Bloody Mary bar, then get golfing and eating. The event is a 2 person scramble played in foursomes. Food will be available throughout the course and prepared by visiting Chef Gary Klinefeiter of Pittsburgh, PA and fabulous chefs of our local restaurants. Beverages will be paired by Leeward Islands. Finish the day with an awards banquet complete with desserts. Spectator tickets available too!

10:30a.m. Tee time, Carambola Golf Course, $200pp

TUESDAY, APRIL 12
Tutto Bene Gourmet Vintner Dinner. Food prepared by Top Chef Tiffany Derry of Texas and wine pairing by visiting winemaker, Rudy von Strasser. Also featuring a food and wine themed auction.

6:00p.m., Tutto Bene Restaurant, $375/pp or $750/couple (includes gratuity)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
Food & Wine Educational Symposiums. A variety of educational classes to make us more food and wine savy.

11:00 – How Olive Oil is Made, presented by Cesare Bruni, Owner of Frantoio Montecchia

11:30 – The Health Benefits of Olive Oil, presented by Dr. Mary S. Elacqua, MD FACOG, Chairman of OBGYN and Women’s Health at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York

12:00 – Wine Blending Instruction with Audience Participation by Jennifer Halleck of Halleck Vineyards. Participants will all have a chance to make their own blends with actual wine from Jennifer’s tasting barrels.

$25pp to attend one or all

Organic Farm Seminar and Lunch at Ridge to Reef Farm: Three organic crops that can save St. Croix: Chris Kurth of Siena Farms in Massachusetts joins Nate Olive of Ridge to Reef Farm here on St. Croix as they do a walking discussion of organic farming and community supported agriculture programs (CSA). This educational seminar will conclude with lunch that includes these organic crops. Lunch prepared by local chefs, Angletta Pascal and Tahirah Abu-Bakr.

11:00a.m. Ridge to Reef Farm, formerly Creque Dam Farm $70pp (includes gratuity)

Food Fight! on the beach. A friendly chef competition at eat@canebay on the northshore.  Dannielle Kyrillos hosts the competition between  the Girls Team: Chefs Tiffany Derry, Liza Shaw and Jenifer Litwin and the Boys Team: Chefs Kevin Rathbun, Roberto Trevino and Leslie Gumbs. Will they have to make ceviche from fish they bring in from the ocean or wrestle a coconut out of its shell?

4:30p.m., eat@canebay, $75pp
WEDNESDAY WINE DINNERS. Local restaurants, great chefs and delicious wine paired together to create a memorable dining experience.

Middle Eastern Dinner prepared by Chefs Bruno Moritz, Patrick ‘Yummy’ James and David Vargas and paired with wines by Fantasy Wines of Boston. Entertainment to include belly dancing and fire dancing.

6:30p.m., Cultured Pelican Restaurant, $175pp including gratuity

One other dinner T.B.C.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14
A Taste of St. Croix. A food and wine festival where restaurants are judged by celebrity chefs and special guests. Sample food from more than 50 local restaurants and wines from around the world.

6:00p.m., Divi Carina Bay Resort, $95pp
Taste After Party sponsored by Moet/Hennessey. Complete with champagne and a disco ball, guests dance the evening away with a fabulous party after a Taste of St. Croix.

9:00p.m., Starlight Lounge, Divi Carina Bay Resort, $included with your Taste ticket

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Cork & Fork Dinners. Intimate dinners prepared by celebrity chefs and paired with wines by visiting vintners in spectacular homes around the island.

Chef Anita Lo of New York with wines paired by Jennifer Halleck of Halleck Vineyards at Bella Sera, home of Larry and Peggy Meyer.

6:00p.m., $1000pp

Chef Ana Sortun of Boston with winemaker Michela Moretti of of Casa Moretti in Notaresco, Italy at Artfarm, home of the Gasperi family.

6:00p.m., $500

Chef Liza Shaw of San Francisco with wines paired by Lindy Novak of Spottswoode Winery at the historic home of Thia Tyler.

6:00p.m., $1000pp
City Krawl. A sophisticated restaurant-hop featuring gourmet samples of food and beverage pairing at Christiansted restaurants: Dashi, Bacchus and Tavern 1844

6:00p.m., Meet at Dashi, wear comfortable shoes to walk between restaurants, $100pp

Sunset BBQ sponsored by Banco Popular. Join us as we watch Sunset Jazz atop Fort Frederik while savoring a barbeque feast by visiting chefs Kevin Rathbun, Roberto Trevino and Michael Ferraro along side fantastic local chefs.

6:00p.m., Fort Frederik, Frederiksted, $50pp

SATURDAY, APRIL 16
Kids Cooking Classes.

Taught by women chefs catering to children 6-12 years old, expanding the culinary horizons of our youth and making cooking fun for the whole family. Parent or guardian must be present. $25 per child (one parent must be present)

10:30a.m.

Class #1: Healthy fun sweet treats with Dannielle Kyrillos, Ages: 6-10 years

Class #2: Chicken salad in a bag with Camisha Lynch, Ages: 6-10 years

11:30a.m.

Class #3: Cavatelli pasta making with Liza Shaw, Ages: 8-12 years

Class #4: Summer spring rolling with Anita Lo, 10-12 years old

Wine in the Warehouse. A festive event featuring live music, food and the focus of the evening: fabulous wine tastings with some of the winemakers present. Stop by the Diageo VIP lounge area on your way in for a cocktail, put your shawl on to combat the cool air in the wine warehouse and raise a glass to the perfect end to a week full of food and wine. Wines available for sale too.

6:00p.m., Leewards Islands Warehouse, $100pp

Go to www.stcroixfoodfantasy.com for more information.

Cookbook Announced for 2011
St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
Cookbook includes Recipes from Celebrity Chefs and Island Chefs
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – February 2011 – In addition to a stellar roster of celebrity chefs and events for the 2011 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, the event also announces the release of St. Croix Food & Wine Experience: A Culinary Guide to the Island Featuring Recipes from Island and Celebrity Chefs. In addition to culinary delights, the book will include a wine guide and an island guide. The book will be available on island on March 26, the day tickets to the events go on sale, and during the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, which is will be held April 10-16, 2011. The 120-page, four-color cookbook can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.com.

The more than 100 recipes included in the cookbook are by celebrity chefs and island chefs. Celebrity chefs contributors include Govind Armstrong, Michael Ferraro, Betty Fraser, Anita Lo, Tim Love, Kevin Rathbun, Gabriel Rucker, Liza Shaw, Ana Sortun, Roberto Trevino, and Just Desserts judge and DailyCandy editor Dannielle Kyrillos.  Island chef contributors include Elvet Carty of Herve’s, Jill Dedinsky of Café Fresco, Patrick Gribbin of Starfish Patisserie, Leslie Gumbs of Theo’s, Patrick James, Angela Morales of Villa Morales, Negust Kaza of Tutto Bene, Lance Lowman of RumRunners, Burton Peterson of Top Class Catering, Frank Pugliese of Eat@CaneBay, Joseph Stiles of Salud Bistro, Mat Vacharat of St. John Catering, and many more.

The cookbook features a wine guide, island guide and six culinary sections:  beverages, appetizers, entrees, vegetarian, soups and stews and desserts. The wine guide, which smartly pairs wines with tropical dishes, was written by sommelier and restaurant owner Katherine Pugliese, who has lived on St. Croix for more than 20 years and is one of the founders of the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience. St. Croix native and UncommonCaribbean.com editor Steve Bennett wrote the island guide which is divided into four sections and provides historical and current information on culture, food, music and rum. The cookbook was compiled and published by Jane Watkins, a native of St. Croix who handles the media and chef relations for the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience. For more information visit www.WatkinsPR.com.

About the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, named one on the Ten Best International Food and Wine Festivals by Forbes Travel, showcases the diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The multi-day event includes gourmet dinners, wine seminars, wine auctions, and the annual culinary competition, A Taste of St. Croix. The event benefits the St. Croix Foundation (www.stxfoundation.org), a non-profit community foundation that administers a number of local programs. The event was started in 2001 by restaurant owners Katherine Pugliese of Eat@CaneBay, and Kelly Odom of Tutto Bene, and is recognized as the pre-eminent food and wine event in the Caribbean. For more information visit www.stcroixfoodandwine.com <http://www.stcroixfoodandwine.com> or www.tasteofstcroix.com.

Three Female Chefs named in Saveur magazine’s “Top 100”
Will be at the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience April 10-16, 2011

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – January 2011 - Anita Lo, Ana Sortun and Liza Shaw, three of the chefs listed in Saveur magazine’s “Top 100″ in its January/February 2011 issue, are participating in the 2011 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience. In addition to being guest judges for A Taste of St. Croix, the island-wide culinary competition, they will each prepare a fundraising dinner at elegant island homes and host a cooking seminar. The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience is April 10-17, 2011.

“We wanted to feature female chefs this year as women play such a critical role in the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, on the island and in the non-profit programs that benefit from the fundraising efforts,” said Katherine Pugliese, co-founder of the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, “We invited Anita, Ana and Liza because they are great women, business leaders and amazing chefs. They are role models for youth and aspiring entrepreneurs on the island and represent the pride we have in the women of the US Virgin Islands who make a difference every day.”

The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience started in 2001 when two female restaurant owners, Kelly Odom and Katherine Pugliese founded A Taste of St. Croix. The events of the week raise funds for The St. Croix Foundation, which is led by Ms. Deanna James. In 2011, in addition to hosting celebrity female chefs, the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience will honor three female leaders of the island. “When you stop and take a look at the impact one person can make, it is impressive. We want to recognize people in the community each year for the difference they make,” said Pugliese.

The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience welcomes nominations of women who have made a positive impact in the community.  To nominate a person, submit their name, contact information and a description on how they make a difference to Khnuma Simmonds (ksimmonds@stxfoundation.org) at The St. Croix Foundation.

Tickets to the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience go on sale in March 2011 and will be available at www.StCroixFoodandWine.com. Hotel packages including tickets are available now. Patrons wanting guaranteed access to all events can become sponsors. For more information on sponsorship opportunities please contact Sara Zuckerman at 340-773-9898 or visit www.stcroixfoodandwine.com.

About the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, named one on the Ten Best International Food and Wine Festivals by Forbes Travel, showcases the diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The multi-day event includes gourmet dinners, wine seminars, wine auctions, and the annual culinary competition, A Taste of St. Croix. The event benefits the St. Croix Foundation (www.stxfoundation.org), a non-profit community foundation that administers a number of local programs. The event was started in 2001 by restaurant owners Katherine Pugliese of Eat@CaneBay, and Kelly Odom of Tutto Bene, and is recognized as the pre-eminent food and wine event in the Caribbean. For more information visit www.stcroixfoodandwine.com.

Available as a Word download here: Three Female Chefs

We are pleased to announce that the following chefs will be joining us in St. Croix for the 2011 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience.

Read more about them here.