The World Gourmet Affair ended Saturday with a gala event that not only delighted guests, but set the stage for many more to come.

The impressive weeklong event hosted 480 guests over six nights, a turnout that organizers consider a tremendous success for its first year.

“It shows that the Turks and Caicos community is ready for our Gourmet Affair showcasing the resorts and Turks and Caicos as a gourmet destination,” said Ingo Reckhorn, who helped organize the event. “We (the organizers) are thrilled about this level of support and look forward to making next year’s World Gourmet Affair an even bigger success.”

The World Gourmet Affair began Monday, Jan. 17, with a unique dinner hosted at a different top resort on Providenciales each night of the week. Resorts included the Regent Palms, Amanyara, Point Grace, Gansevoort and the Grace Bay Club. Each invited an international guest chef to prepare a five-course menu that highlighted the culinary mastery available in the TCI.

Residents as well as visitors enjoyed the splendors prepared at the hands of the impressive international chefs based in Europe and the U.S. The chefs who travelled from afar to participate in the World Gourmet Affair included French Chef Christian Ville, Spanish Chef Jordi Pallas, Michelin star Spanish chef Fernando Canales, American/French Chef Bernard Guillas and Belgian chef Eric Crutzen.

The weeklong affair culminated with a gala event Saturday night under the stars, hosted in the beautiful gardens of the Regent Palms resort.

Along with the culinary delights, Turquoise Distribution treated guests to an impressive wine, Champagne, Armagnac, rum and Belgian beer tasting second to none. Java Island was also on hand to serve the perfect cup of coffee to end the meal on a high note.

In addition to the evening’s enjoyable fare, funds were raised to help support several local schools.

“We are proud to be able to donate $8,910 to the schools, which includes, $2,000 from Scotia Private Client Group, a successful silent auction and ticket proceeds from the gala event,” organizer Michel Neutelings told the fp.

In addition, during the course of the week, each of the five guest chefs hosted a cooking lesson for students from several local schools including Maranatha High, the New Age Academy, Wesley Methodist, the Whole Gospel Academy, Clement Howell High as well as from the Community College.

The cooking lessons were made possible thanks to support from the Scotia Private Client Group under the umbrella of their Scotiabank community program “Bright Future.”

After a delicious week , the World Gourmet Affair left guests with a satisfied pallet, but also craving for more next year.

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by fp Staff
fp Turks & Caicos