BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH the official start of Restaurant Week (RW) still a few days away, the organizers held the annual tasting event yesterday (Jul. 16) which saw a large turnout in the lobby of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
That turnout, according to Minister of Tourism Hon. Lindsay Grant, gave a good indication of what restaurants could expect when they open their doors for the third instalment of Restaurant Week.
This year’s Restaurant Week will run from July 19 to 30 with the central focus being on yams, and more food outlets have come onboard to participate in the event.
SKNVibes understands that over 40 restaurants have signed up to participate this time around.
Minister Grant, speaking with this media house at yesterday’s event, indicated that the Ministry of Tourism is expecting many more people to go out and sample what the restaurants have to offer.
Restaurant Week has been used as a marketing strategy by the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority to draw more people out to dine during the off season.
That event, since its inception in 2015, has been a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tourism Authority, which has a mantra of eating more locally grown produce.
Additionally, the Minister stated that it has been collaborating with its counterpart on Nevis to promote the event on both islands, noting that despite them being in the same sector it assists them to come together to promote St. Kitts and Nevis.
“It gives you an opportunity as two islands to work together,” Grant said.
A cautious Grant described the event as “a work in progress” when pressed for data on if it does attract tourists to the island. He however indicate that they would have to test the empirical data to make a firm determination.
Chefs from Carambola Beach Club, Ocean Terrace Inn and Ital Creations, among others, showcased what they would be offering during the event.
The organizers also used the event to award the winners of the various promotional activities leading up to Restaurant Week.
