Canadian chef headed to Barbados culinary festival

Guests of Barbados Tourism were able to enjoy some signature Bajan hospitality last night, sampling 'Jungle Bird' cocktails and cured snapper as part of the country’s lead-up to its sixth annual 2015 Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival.

The Festival, which seeks to celebrate the many flavours of Barbados’ gastronomic diversity, provides a platform for chefs – on both a Caribbean and worldwide scale – to prepare dishes that are representative of their own unique backgrounds, complementing the cuisine with a selection of wine and, of course, Bajan rum.

“Barbados is highly recognized as one of the culinary leaders in the Caribbean,” Peter Mayers, director of Barbados Tourism, told PAX. “The festival combines the kind of cuisine, wine and rum we offer on a daily basis from different regions around the island.”

The Festival prides itself on offering different experiences every year, ranging from cooking demonstrations to beach BBQs, as well as hosting gatherings at its famous Oistins Fish Fry.

Mayers stated that the varied nature of the festival showcases different elements of what Barbados can offer travellers, and that the presence of star chefs from around the globe adds an element of culinary celebrity to the event.

This year, Chef Craig Harding, owner of Campagnolo in Toronto, will represent Canada at the Festival, bringing his acclaimed farm-to-table Italian fare to the shores of Barbados, and has already begun making plans.

“Any opportunity I get to cook in another country, with new people and new ingredients,” he told PAX, “I jump at that chance.”

Although Harding admitted he’s somewhat unfamiliar with Bajan food, he said he's looking forward to “getting his hands on it.”

“The more I get to know Barbados, the more I see that they have a wealth of phenomenal ingredients – things I’ve never worked with like different breeds of lamb and species of fish,” he said. “I’m excited to get started.”

Canada is currently Barbados’ third largest market, accounting for 24 per cent of the country’s inbound visitors as of 2015. The country reported strong tourism numbers to that effect during an event in July, crediting the abundance of direct flights from Air Canada and WestJet, accommodation choices, and cultural experiences for the influx in Canadian visitors.

According to Mayers, Harding’s celebrity chef status (Campagnolo has appeared on several ‘Top’ restaurant lists throughout Canada and is currently starring in Chef in Your Ear on Food Network) could potentially encourage younger travellers toward seeking their own culinary adventures on the island.

“Craig has a loyal fan base,” Mayers said, “and his involvement in the Festival could certainly motivate the next generation of Canadians to discover what Barbados is all about.”

Harding agreed, stating that if the chefs of the Festival are able to share their experiences while in Barbados, “hopefully it will attract our followers to want to go and check out what Barbados has to offer. It’s more than just a beach destination – there’s a viable culinary scene there.”

PAX had the opportunity to visit Barbados and experience a culinary awakening of its own. Check out the September issue of PAX magazine for the story.