The BVI Food Fete Yearlong celebration has taken off with a bang, igniting the taste buds and setting the stage for an extraordinary culinary journey in the British Virgin Islands. The event which was previously only a monthlong, is now being extended to ensure that more visitors to the Territory can enjoy the culinary offerings of BVI.
The series of events was unveiled on 2 October by the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC) during a media brunch event at Main Street Restaurant BVI Ltd. It was announced that the Food Fete will take place between November 2023 and June 2024 with a major drive to showcase that the BVI is a foodie’s dream come true.
During the launch event members of the BVI Tourist Board explained that the Food Fete is aiming to not only showcase the diverse culinary experiences available in the Territory but also inspire travel to the destination.
While there are several exciting events lined up as part of the BVI Food Fete’s 2023/2024 yearlong celebration, one event was noticeably missing. The absentee from this year’s lineup is the Jost Pork event that has been part of the Food Fete Calendar over the last few years.
Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Clive McCoy, explained that the decision was made based on feedback from Jost Van Dyke residents. He said that the community was not thrilled about the event and the BVITB listened to the concerns and decided to replace the Jost Pork event. As a result, the Tourist Board has introduced the Jost Lime & Dine promotion, which includes a ferry service to facilitate dining on the sister island.
McCoy shared details about the Jost Lime & Dine promotion, stating, “As the name suggests, it’s Jost Lime & Dine, and we know what Jost Van Dyke is all about. It’s about liming and having a good time, so we’re expecting them to put their best foot forward, showcase their menu, showcase whatever lime they have for those nights on Saturdays and Wednesdays in February and all the Saturdays in January.”
The TB Director explained that in order to make dining on Jost Van Dyke more accessible, the BVI Tourist Board will provide a complimentary ferry service for individuals returning from the island as part of the promotion. However, he stated that visitors will be responsible for their own transportation to Jost Van Dyke.
Despite the absence of the Jost Pork event, the BVITB has put extensive thought and effort into this year’s BVI Food Fete. The yearlong celebration will kick off with the highly anticipated Anegada Lobster Festival from 24 to 26 November. Other events included in the lineup are A Taste of Virgin Gorda on 16 March and A Taste of Tortola on 29 June. With these exciting events and more, the BVI Food Fete Yearlong celebration promises to be grander and more spectacular than ever before.
