More Than 50 St. Croix Purveyors To Whet Your Appetite At Taste Of St. Croix Today

ST. CROIX — St. Croix’s biggest culinary event known as Taste of St. Croix happens today at its traditional location, the Divi Carina Bay Hotel and Casino at 6:00 p.m., where thousands are expected to participate for what has always been a highly sought-after affair.

The event commands an elegant aura, with attendees descending on the hotel with fashionable attire as ladies wow with their debonair attitude, and dapper men show off their best wear.

But don’t be fooled, Taste of St. Croix, all things considered, is about food — plenty food. This year, over 50 purveyors will line the hotel’s lower floor open area with their best offerings — showcasing locally sourced ingredients in creative presentations. The event is always lively, too, with local bands keeping the atmosphere vibrant. There’s also tastings of wine, beer and spirits.

And while Taste of St. Croix is the main experience, the organization, which is a nonprofit, has multiple events that occur all week — all of which are sold-out.

Friday: School Lunch Makeover

Celebrated Chefs including Tiffany Derry, Ron Duprat, Kevin Fonzo, and Mathayom Vacharat lend their star power, passion and culinary expertise to help with a fun, interactive school lunch make-over. Chefs are paired with students and a school food service worker come up with a fresh new, kid friendly option to add to the public school lunch menu.

Saturday: TasteBuds

April 8 brings TasteBuds ($35 per person), a culinary adventure for children ages 7–12. Led by local chefs Todd Manley and Frank Robinson and celebrity chefs, Tiffany Derry, Kevin Fonzo, Ron Duprat and St. John chef Mathayam Vacherat. The program introduces kids to local ingredients and healthy cooking in a hands-on setting at St. Croix’s Pearl B. Larsen School. Classes at 9:00am & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday: Cuisine on the Green

Whether you play golf or not this is a fun and deliciously entertaining event. Every other hole of this stunning Robert Trent Jones golf course has creative food and beverage pairings from local restaurants and chefs.

A 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Taste of St. Croix has donated more than $350,000 to community programs and local organizations since its inception, according to information the organization provided. In 2016, Taste of St. Croix donated to the The Lighthouse Mission, granted two full-time scholarships to the UVI Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, and established a travel fund for students participating in culinary competitions. Taste of St. Croix’s 365 Program comprises a year-round calendar of projects to support and promote the island’s hospitality industry including Reef Responsible, Farmer to Table and Culinary Juniors.