Taste After Party Tonight! THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 • 6–9 PM • DIVI CARINA BAY RESORT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ST. CROIX FOUNDATION Celebrating St. Croix This year’s A Taste of St. Croix tribute can go out to none other than St. Croix itself. Over the years, the resilience and commitment of the people of St. Croix has proven itself time and time again. Creating a sense of family and unity, strength against all odds, the people of St. Croix are to be celebrated. The Unity. We are called The Big Island, but St. Croix has a feeling of closeness and unity. There is a sense of family among neighbors, coworkers, and even on the roads of St. Croix, where you can hear the distinct “toot toot” of the honk of car horns encouraging others to go before them. Working together to make a difference for the greater good: the people of St. Croix believe in each other and in our island. That is unity. It is St. Croix. The Strength of the people of St. Croix is unique; people talk to one another on the Big Island, we look each other in the eye, and feel the challenges and the triumphs that one another experience. There is no stronger and happier sound than someone laughing on a beach on St. Croix. The voices of St. Croix, strong and true, are testimony to their conviction that St. Croix is special and that its beauty, history, and future must be protected. The Community. St. Croix has come together, year after year, rising above natural disasters, political firestorms, economic recessions, and through it all has become all the stronger, a diverse and beautiful gem in the Caribbean. A Taste of St. Croix celebrates not just the amazing hospitality industry that keeps St. Croix’s special flavor alive, but our Community. As we have every year, for the last 12 years, we celebrate all that is St. Croix. We thank you for being here tonight and supporting us in our efforts to contribute to our beautiful island. A toast to Community! To St. Croix! Welcome to the 12th Anniversary A Taste of St. Croix celebrates the spirit and flavor of St. Croix by pooling culinary artisans from more than 50 local chefs, restaurants and eateries. The event, which was the brainchild of two local restaurateurs, was started as a way to celebrate the diverse and delectable cuisine and culture of St. Croix with its influences from all over the Caribbean and the world. Today, the Taste is known nationally and abroad as one of the finest food and wine events in the Caribbean. It was the catalyst for the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience, named by Forbes Traveler one of the “top 10 interna- tional food and wine events.” A Taste of St. Croix has attracted thousands of guests including international winemakers, rum distillers, brewers, and celebrity chefs, who are all able to drink in the culture and vibe of our amazing island. A Taste of St. Croix is a night of true elegance, art, culture, laughter… and a spectacular good time. Most proceeds go to benefit the ST. CROIX FOUNDATION A Taste of St. Croix also contributes to and funds several restaurant and service industry related services and training, in addition to many civic, art and cultural events that help keep St. Croix vibrant. As a benefit for the community, most proceeds from Taste are directed to the St. Croix Foundation. As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical community founda- tion, the St. Croix Foundation provides leadership and acts as a catalyst in bringing together diverse groups to discuss problems and forge solutions. The Foundation is making an impact because we leverage funds raised from concerned citizens and encourage greater philanthropic activity through increasing public awareness of current and emerging needs in in our commu- nity. We appreciate your support. Together we can make a difference! 1 MANY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR DONATIONS AND SUPPORT: Bellows International Centerline Car Rental Dionysus Distributing Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino Italian VI Trading Jan Mitchell JKC Communications Quality Food Lighthouse Mission Luca Gasperi Merchants Market Premier Wines & Spirits Prestige Wine Group Reliable Rentals Seaborne Airlines Sugar Estate Distributing Terri Wunschel, Grass Hut Design The Buccaneer U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department VisitStCroix.com Watkins PR, Jane Watkins West Indies Corporation Booklet designed & printed by: VisitStCroix.com The Island’s Leading Internet Destination— celebrating 14 years of service. For everything you need to know about staying, playing, living and especially eating in St. Croix, America’s Paradise. 2 A TASTE OF ST. CROIX JUDGES Govind Armstrong, Celebrity Chef/Chef, Restaurateur & Author, Los Angeles. Govind Armstrong made his mark with his Table 8 and 8 oz Burger Bar restaurants in Los Angeles and Miami. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, O Magazine, and People’s “50 Most Beautiful People” issue. He authored Small Bites, Big Nights: Seductive Little Plates for Intimate Occasions and Lavish Parties, is a consultant chef to Air New Zealand, on Macy’s culinary council, and a guest chef for cruise lines. He is expanding 8 oz Burger nationwide and devel- oping Post & Beam in Los Angeles. Erik Greenspan, Chef/Owner, The Foundry & The Roof, Celebrity Chef, Los Angeles. Eric Greenspan is the chef and owner of The Foundry and The Roof in Los Angeles, California. Greenspan, co-host of A&E’s Fix This Kitchen, has been featured on several television shows such as Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Traveler’s Guide to Life, was a contestant on Food Network’s reality culinary competition series The Next Iron Chef and triumphed against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America. Eric has also served as a guest judge or consultant on Bar Rescue, Hell’s Kitchen, Extreme Chef and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Eric graduated with a Diplomme de Cuisine Superior in 1998 from Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris. He has worked with David Bouley, Rocco Despirito, Alain Ducasse, and Ferran Adria. Theo Gumbs, CEC, CEO, Theo’s Gourmet Caribbean Foods, LLC., St. Thomas. Born in the US Virgin Islands, Chef Theo Gumbs has forged an astonishing career based on his charismatic personality and a flair for gourmet Caribbean foods. Bringing together regional flavors and world class cuisines, he manages to combine old and new flavors from African, Amerindian, French and Dutch origins into signature dishes that earned him the title of “Culinary Ambas- sador” for the region. Chef Theo is a two time winner of the “Local Chef,” “Top Chef,” and “Iron Chef” competitions, where he also served as a judge. And in 2012, he was named the Daily News “Best of the VI, Private Chef.” He has launched his brand of authentic Carib- bean seasonings, sauces and vinaigrettes available throughout the Virgin Islands. He’s been a feature chef for several years at the Taste of the Caribbean in Montreal, Canada and the most recent Rum & Rhythm. Catch Chef Theo on his new endeavor, the Virgin Gourmet for a delicious trip around Caribbean Cuisine and Culture. Jolyon Helterman, Food Critic, Writer, Editor, Boston/St. Croix. Jolyon Helterman once spent eight gluttonous days scarfing down fish-and-chips along England’s Southern coast, all in the name of journalistic due diligence. A Boston-based restaurant critic and food writer, Helterman is a former editor for Cook’s Illustrated, Boston magazine, and The Week. His work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, the Improper Bostonian, New York Magazine, the Sunday Globe Magazine, and Every Day With Rachael Ray. He splits his time between Massachusetts and St. Croix. Gary McCracken, Journalist and Photo Editor, Pensacola News Journal, Florida. With over 30 years at Pensacola News Journal and Gannett Publishing, Gary McCracken is an accom- A FOOD & WINE EVENT 3 plished journalist covering major stories since his graduation from the University of West Florida. Mr. McCracken’s expertise extends to a wide variety of stories including high risk cov- erage of hurricanes, abortion clinic bombings, train derailments, and plane crashes. Branch- ing out again, Gary has followed the careers of Pensacola sports figures, Roy Jones Jr., Emmitt Smith, Derrick Brooks, Jerry Pate, and Bubba Watson. After a three-year stint in the USVI at the Virgin Islands Daily News and St. Croix Avis, McCracken returned to the News Journal and has been the Photo Editor at the paper since 2002. Upon his return to Pensacola, McCracken worked with Gulf Coast celebrity chef Jim Shirley to produce images for Shirley’s cookbook, Good Grits! A Southern Boy Cooks. He also contributed work to Julie DeMarko’s cookbook, Juliet’s World Cafe Cookbook. In 2010 he helped develop the “Food and Wine” section of the Pensacola News Journal and regularly contributes work. Victor Merced, Chef/Owner, Flavor Merchants, Inc. & Lead Chef/Consultant, Puerto Rico. Chef Victor Merced’s history in the culinary industry is flavored with everything from provid- ing catering services to mainstream Hollywood productions including Fast and the Furious and The Losers, to being a certified BBQ Judge and acting as a BBQ authority for the Cattleman’s BBQ Competitions for the last seven years. His expertise extends even further; as Owner/Chef and lead chef at numerous establishments, Chef Victor’s skills include the art of fine Thai, Indian, Italian, Caribbean, Creole, African, and Asian cuisine. Working also with benefits for schools and universities, Chef Victor is now Chef and Owner of Flavor Merchants, focusing on bringing the Caribbean’s exotic fruits and unique spicy flavors to the world.