Let’s face it, the Caribbean has never previously been the first choice for food lovers to indulge their epicurean interests. That, however, is beginning to change with St Lucia emerging as a surprising destination with a lot to offer food lovers, aside from its lush tropical scenery.
A new organisation is driving the revolution – The Caribbean Culinary Council has launched new initiatives with the aim of developing and celebrating the region’s culinary expertise. Head of the organisation Karolin Troubetzkoy comments: “Visitors to the Caribbean are looking for unique culinary experiences and locally sourced products. Increasingly, our culinary offerings are driving destination traffic alongside established factors such as accommodation and scenery.”
Visitors can now visit a cocoa plantation offering a Tree -To-Bar experience in St Lucia. Weekly street parties and ‘Jump Ups’ showcase the local cuisine, and the capital of Castries has one of the most colourful and vibrant food markets in the Caribbean.
Five-star boutique hotel, Cap Maison, in the north of the island is leading the fine-dining culinary scene with several exciting initiatives. Aside from their fine dining restaurant The Cliff at Cap Maison, the hotel is organising pop-up dining experiences in iconic locations around the island; foodie themed evenings are arranged aboard the resort’s very own luxury 46 ft motor yacht; a guest chef programme welcomes visiting international chefs; they offer an immersive gastronomy package for those wanting to learn about cooking the island’s produce, and most recently they have introduced a lavish six-course dinner menu called ‘Ultimate Maison’, with carefully selected fine French wines. At USD 1,900 per person, it is the certainly the most expensive and exclusive dining experience in Saint Lucia.
For a unique experience, guests can book to dine on ‘Rock Maison’, a private wooden deck built above the rocks surrounded by water below the Cliff at Cap restaurant. Rock Maison is accessed by a wooden staircase down from the clifftop, where Champagne is delivered by zip-line from the restaurant above.
Cap Maison offers luxury accommodation in 49 beautifully appointed suites spread over three acres of tropical landscaped grounds. Guests are treated to dramatic cliff scenery with the tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea on one side and the brisk Atlantic Ocean to the other. Guests have access to a pretty, secluded sandy beach and enjoy a truly bespoke service throughout their stay.
