Barbados Announces Culinary Team for 2023 Food & Rum Festival

The Barbados Food and Rum Festival returns in 2023 and Barbados Tourism Board – Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) has partnered with 22 local chefs and mixologists to showcase the best of Barbados' culinary talent and gastronomy. 
The festival will take place this year from October 19 to 22 under the theme “Feed the Future”, once again showing the company's commitment to developing the future of young local talent.

Added to this local team of chefs, BTMI has also teamed up with three international chefs to further elevate the festival to the global stage.

Culinary Talent on Display

BTMI Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Aprille Thomas, said this year's lineup of chefs and mixologists highlight the diversity of Barbados' culinary talent.

“This October, the best of Barbadian culinary talent will be on display. From award winning mixologists to vegan chefs; we are excited to dazzle patrons with what's new in Caribbean and international cuisine,” said Thomas.

Chefs Announcement 2023

This October, chefs were challenged to create dishes using 50 percent Barbadian ingredients, rum and a mystery ingredient they selected from the Mystery Box.

Similarly, mixologists chose their local mystery ingredients to incorporate into their rum cocktails. 

International Chefs

Thomas has also announced the names of this year's international team chefs.

“We welcome the opportunity to once again partner with Food Network USA's Chef Anne Burrell, who has joined us at multiple festivals and is a fan favorite. We have also partnered with the MasterChef from the United Kingdom, Chef Shelina Permalloo and from Colombia Chef Juan Diego Vanegas”, said Thomas.

She explained that the United States and the United Kingdom represent the largest percentage of visitors to Barbados, and therefore, she believes that this will be a great attraction since the Festival has been publicized in these markets.

In fact, BTMI will be showcasing the Barbados Rum and Food Festival at the upcoming National Geographic Food Festival in London from July 15 – 17. Two mixologists and a chef from Barbados will be on display, joined by the UK chef for the festival, Shelina Permalloo.

In addition, the director explained that this alliance with chef Juan Diego was integral since BTMI continues to focus on expanding the presence of Barbados in the Latin American market, which is considered a new emerging market. For BTMI, this alliance and the opening of an office in Panama will help the organization to consolidate its presence in Latin America.