For many years, A Taste of St. Croix was anticipated each spring by food lovers who looked forward to flocking to the Divi Carina Bay Hotel with food, drinks, music and friends.
When two Category 5 hurricanes severely damaged the hotel in September 2017, the iconic event had to be canceled this spring and was rescheduled with a new ambience and new setting this in downtown Christiansted.
“We’re trying to make Taste new without changing Taste,” said Collin Hodge, one of the event founders.
From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, King Street south and along Company Street will be lined with booths from restaurants and caterers serving their best fare and distributors pouring generous samples of wine and other spirits. Foodies can taste as many items as they wish until the food runs out. There will be six secured entrances and no one without a ticket will be admitted to the area.
The 35 vendors will compete for prizes in appetizer, soups and stews, fine entrees, vegetarian, local dishes, desserts and drinks categories. Purveyors will include: Un Amore, Brew STX, Sejah Farm, Tap Deck Bar and Billiards, Cibone, Blue Water Terrace, Beach Side Café at Sand Castles, West Indies Corporation, Bellows International and Leatherback Beer.
During the event, the Company House Hotel will host an open house to showcase its newly renovated historic building.
Music during the event will include the Spectrum Band and R&B Connection live on two stages and after parties at Dashi, Cloud 9, Company House Hotel and Martinis featuring different genres of music later in the evening.
Tickets are $75 (lower than some previous years) for general admission and are available at tasteofstcroix.com, Eventbrite, Urban Threadz and Riddims. Online tickets can be picket up at the Taste of St. Croix office, 1023 Market Street (Sunday Market Square). VIP tickets, that included a pre-event party, are sold out, according to Hodge.
This year’s event will benefit the Light House Mission, the V.I. Culinary Team and Taste of St. Croix – University of the Virgin Islands scholarships.
Asked if the event will return to Divi next year, Hodge said it depends on several factors including whether or not the hotel has reopened.
A Taste of St. Croix was started in 2001 by Hodge, Katherine Pugliese and Kelly Odom to highlight the talents of the island’s chefs and promote hospitality and culinary careers in the schools.