Antigua and Barbuda: The inaugural Restaurant Week is all set to return to the shores of Antigua and Barbuda with its official launch on Sunday. The event will mark the calendar from May 7 to May 21, 2023, and aims to vibrantly showcase the cuisine of the twin island.
The cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda will make the tourists experience the unique blend of local casual hotspots and three-course menus at the best restaurants on the islands. Restaurant Week will efficiently celebrate the best work of the local chefs, and there will be the presence of celebrity chefs to elevate awareness of the event.
With the welcome of three celebrity chefs for the first week named US-based Chef Tanya Holland, Jamaican-American Chef DeVonn Francis and Antiguan-born Chef Claude Lewis, the Restaurant Week of Antigua and Barbuda will be kicked off.
Executive Chef/Owner of the internationally renowned and beloved Brown Sugar Kitchen restaurant in Oakland, California, Tanya Holland, is infamous for her inventive take on modern soul food with comfort classics. She has also remained one of the fan’s favourites with her 15th season Top Chef show and Food Network’s Melting Pot. Her television journey also included the appearance in the HBO Max show Selena + Chef featuring Selena Gomez and work as the host of “Tanya’s Kitchen Table” on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
Founder of creative studio Yardy, which is renowned for the exceptional combination of art and food, Chef DeVonn- a Jamaican-American Chef, is the perfect example of the life lived for passion. He has affiliations with Bon Appetit and HBO’s Selena and Chef.
Yardy World is a culinary studio specializing in offering immersive food experiences and vibrant Caribbean cuisine. After collaborating with brands such as Gucci, Converse, and Burberry, Francis is known for creating chic and sensual meals. He was also featured in notable publications like The New Yorker, New York Times, Bon Appetit, and Interview Magazine.
Chef Claude Lewis has been working to promote West Indian cuisine in the United States, specifically Antigua and Barbuda cuisine. He also educates people on several health benefits and flavours of Caribbean ingredients. He also secured the title of Chopped Champion and participated in several competitions, such as Fire Masters in Canada and Kitchen Crash on Food Network.
Restaurant Week will provide a platform for local chefs to collaborate with celebrity chefs. The tourist chefs will tour the country and experience the magnificent beauty of Antigua and Barbuda. They will taste the local cuisine. The guests will experience the service and food at a discounted rate of US$775 throughout Restaurant Week.
The event will feature Prix Fixe menus from over 30 participating restaurants and the ‘Eat Like A Local’ interactive map. Prix Fixe program will feature the participation of more than 30 restaurants with special lunch and dinner menus for the set price of either US$25, US$50 or US$75, allowing visitors and guests to experience the best of cuisine of the country.
The ‘Eat Like A Local’ interactive map and program will offer a unique experience of Antigua and Barbuda dishes and delights from more than 20 popular local food and spots. A limited-edition Restaurant Week Food Passport issued at participating restaurants during the week will feature diners chronicling their restaurant experiences. It will include the favourite meal and cocktail. The visitors will eat as many restaurants as possible to win big rewards.
