Fourth annual gathering in the fabulous French island
Patti Pietschmann
| This is the first thing you see when sailing into Gastavia, St. Barths (courtesy Richard Pietschmann) |
| Our favorite place to swim, Shell Beach (Richard Pietschmann) |
Six of the world’s leading chefs in French gastronomy will be there to showcase their signature styles and celebrate the long-standing tradition of culinary excellence on the island. During the festival, these acclaimed masters will pair with some of St. Bart’s most talented chefs to present one-of-a-kind multicourse tasting menus. Now one of the leading international culinary events, the fourth annual St. Barts’s Gourmet Festival will continue to enhance the reputation of St. Barts as a unique and exclusive destination.
St. Bart’s Gourmet Festival announced that Chef Eric Frechon, executive chef at the three Michelin star Epicure restaurant at Le Bristol Hotel in Paris and “Meillieur Ouvrier de France,” will serve as patron to the festival. He will speak at the opening of the festival, serving as president of the jury for the St. Bart’s Chefs Challenge, among other duties.
The Chefs’ dinners will be held at local hotels and restaurants such as Aux Amis at the Le Barthélemy Hotel, On the Rocks at Eden Rock St Barths, Bartholomeo at Le Guanahani, Taïno at Hotel Christopher, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France and Le Sereno Hotel. On all three evenings, each chef will prepare a four-course menu at a fixed price of 95 euros per person and an eight-course menu at the fixed price of 130 euros per person.
“The Saint Barth Gourmet Festival is a major event that helps confirm the dominant position of the island as a world-class tourist Caribbean destination, while allowing both guests and residents to enjoy the best of French gastronomy in a friendly, festive atmosphere.” states Nils DuFau, president of the Territorial Tourism Committee of St. Barts.
The guest chefs attending the 2017 St. Bart’s Gourmet Festival include:
Chef Pierre Augé
Top Chef Winner, 2014; La Maison de Petit Pierre, Béziers, France
Hosted by Aux Amis- Le Barthélemy Hotel and Executive Chef Guy Martin
Chef Jérôme FaureOne Michelin Star; Le Champ des Lunes at the Domaine de Fontenille, Lauris, France
Hosted by On the Rocks-Eden Rock St Barths and Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Chef Pierre RigothierOne Michelin Star; La Scène Thélème, Paris, France
Hosted by Bartholomeo-Le Guanahani and Executive Chefs Philippe Masseglia & Chef Nicola De March
Chef Virginie BasselotOne Michelin Star; Le Loti at the La Réserve Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland
Hosted by Taïno-Hotel Christopher and Executive Chef Nicolas Tissier
Chef Christophe BacquiéTwo Michelin Star; Restaurant Christophe Bacquié at the Hôtel du Castellet, Le Castellet, France
Hosted by Le Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France and Executive Chef Yann Vinsot
Chef Andrea BertonOne Michelin Star; Berton al Lago restaurant on Lake Como, Italy
Hosted by Le Sereno Hotel and Chef Alex Simone
In addition to the Chefs’ dinners, the festival will include a Bartender contest held by Cognac Martell at Quarter on Friday, November 3 beginning at 10 p.m., as well as culinary competitions such as the St. Bart’s Chefs Challenge by Champagne Lanson at Bonito, November 5 from 8-10 a.m., and the Amateur Pastry Contest “Petites Toques St Barth” held at the Wall House Museum from 10-12 p.m. Lastly, a new event, the Challenge Joyfood by Badoit, take place on November 4th at 10 a.m, featuring teams of locals and visitors cooking together for the chefs, with the winning team receiving.
Reservations for the festival dinners can be made by directly contacting the festival partner hotels and restaurants. Daytime events do not require a reservation and are open to the public.
The festival is organized by The Territorial Tourism Committee of Saint Barthélemy. For more information about the St. Bart’s Gourmet Festival, visit www.stbarthgourmetfestival.com/en/us/as well as Saint-Barth Tourism on Facebook.
