SOURCE TRAVEL WEEKLY- By Meagan Drillinger- Antigua and Barbuda is setting the table for culinary tourism with the launch of its inaugural Culinary Month in May. This celebration of food and drink was created to elevate the twin-island nation’s gastronomic reputation, establishing it as a destination for foodies in the Caribbean.
“The inception of Restaurant Week was a strategic move to extend our tourism season and reinforce Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a year-round destination,” said Dean Fenton, U.S. director of tourism at the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority. “Building on that success and drawing inspiration from our established Romance Month, we recognized a prime opportunity to further enrich our tourism calendar.”
The islands’ cuisine is deeply rooted in African influences. One of the standout dishes is fungee and pepper pot, a hearty dish made from cornmeal and a slow-cooked stew. Visitors can also try local pastries and savor the local black pineapple.
Culinary Month expands beyond the country’s existing Restaurant Week and will include FAB Fest (Food, Art & Beverage Festival), the Food Forum and Eat Like a Local events. The hope is that the immersive experience will highlight the islands’ culinary heritage as well as stimulate the local economy by showcasing local chefs, traditional dishes and local dining experiences.
Restaurant Week, the showcase event for Antigua and Barbuda’s top dining establishments, offering prix fixe menus ranging from $25 to $75 for lunch and dinner. This year’s event takes place from May 4 to 18.
FAB Fest is an evolution of the Food and Art Experience event, which has been hosted the last two years. It is an immersive one-day event held at one venue, to be determined, that will enable attendees to enjoy tapas-style tastings from participating restaurants. Local and international chefs will present their creations as will mixologists and sommeliers.
Eat Like a Local takes visitors on a journey to some of the more popular local food spots on the island. Guests can download a digital map to locate these local restaurants. The map provides a list of local foods to choose from and leads guests to the places where visitors can find those foods. Originally a feature of Restaurant Week, this is now an event that visitors can participate in year-round.
Food Forum is a discussion that will focus on the future of Caribbean cuisine, food sustainability and innovation in the culinary industry.
Also planned is a series of curated experiences that will feature a mix of local and visiting chefs collaborating on pop-up dining events. Details are still in the works for those events.
Fenton said that more information will be announced soon. Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda plan to partner with travel advisors and tour operators to offer vacation packages and incentives, with updates to be available on a soon-to-be-launched website.
The launch of Culinary Month is part of a broader initiative to diversify Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism offerings and attract culturally inclined travelers.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to enriching cultural tourism by offering immersive culinary experiences that transcend our renowned sun, sea and sand,” said Fenton.
Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism industry has enjoyed significant growth in recent years. According to the tourism authority, the country welcomed more than 330,000 stay-over visitors and more than 823,000 cruise passengers in the past year. Additionally, airlift expansion in 2024 has made the destination more accessible than ever, thanks to increased service from American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and British Airways.
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Would love to see more events that promote local dishes and ingredients.
I’d love to see a focus on sustainability and local sourcing.
I hope they make sure the events are inclusive and offer a variety of options for all dietary needs.