The four-day culinary event features programming and exclusive meals curated by world-renowned guest chefs, sponsored by U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and HexClad
Lovango Resort & Beach Club, the family-owned private island resort overlooking USVI’s Caneel Bay, unveils the second annual Taste of Lovango Festival, taking place between Wednesday, May 29-Saturday, June 1, 2024. The esteemed culinary event features exclusive meals curated by world-renowned guest chefs, creative cocktails from local partners, and an invigorating schedule of activities.
Spanning four days, the festival is filled with culinary delights, including a vibrant Street Fair celebration, two six-course prix fixe dinners, and a Caribbean lobster bake, each sponsored by USVI Department of Tourism. Festivities kick off on opening night with the Street Fair, featuring acclaimed guest chefs such as Sam Choy, Allen Susser, Vinny Alterio, Ryan O’Sullivan, and the talented Lovango culinary team.
The following two nights, both sponsored by HexClad, promise extraordinary dining experiences with a pair of six-course meals. The first showcases the culinary expertise of chefs Robbie Felice, Brian Arruda, and Brad Kilgore, while the second features the talents of chefs Alex Belew, Gerald Sombright, and Alessandra Ciuffo.
The culinary extravaganza concludes with a grand Caribbean lobster bake, led by the renowned Tiffani Faison and Lovango’s executive chef, Stephen Belie.
Guests can join the immersive experience by opting for Lovango’s overnight accommodations, featuring a selection of Luxury Treehouses, charming Cottages, cozy Glamping Tents, and an exquisite Luxury Villa. Alternatively, visitors from neighboring St. John and St. Thomas can partake in the festivities by booking individual tickets to each event.
Full access tickets for Taste of Lovango start at $1100 pp and include daily continental breakfast, exclusive resort daytime demos, and access to the four main evening events. In between events, participants can unwind at Lovango’s exclusive Beach Club, with curated retail pop-ups, an infinity pool, beach games, and a special Taste of Lovango menu.
This year’s Taste of Lovango will benefit Love City Strong, a 501(c)(3) organization committed to rebuilding St John through disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
The full line-up of chefs, include:
STEPHEN BELIE
- Chef Belie’s culinary approach is rooted in using the freshest regional ingredients and teaching and mentoring staff on consistently producing high-quality food. Prior to joining Lovango as food & beverage director and executive chef, he was executive chef at Noble House’s Little Palm Island Resort & Spa and Gateway Canyons Resort.
BRIAN ARRUDA
- Brian Arruda is the Founder & CEO of premier chef-placement agency Executive Chefs at Home. Prior to this, he traveled the country working for acclaimed chefs including José Andrés, Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, working his way from prep cook to Executive Chef.
ROBBIE FELICE
- James Beard Rising Star semifinalist Robbie Felice is the co-founder and chef-partner of the exclusive pop-up pastaRAMEN, as well as Viaggio Ristorante and Osteria Crescendo in New Jersey.
TIFFANI FAISON
- Chef, Restaurateur, TV personality, and Top Chef winner Tiffani Faison has made a name for herself nationwide for her dynamic personality, culinary prowess and fierce work ethic. Marking her many culinary achievements, James Beard has nominated Tiffani as “Best Chef: Northeast” four times for Tiger Mama and Orfano.
SAM CHOY
- Chef Sam Choy has been creating cuisine with fresh, local island ingredients since he was a boy learning to cook alongside his parents. Before the words “Farm-to-Table” ever came together, sourcing and cooking with the traditional foods of Hawai‘i was a way of life for Sam. In 2004, Choy was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award America’s Classics Award for Sam Choy’s Kaloko in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. The award recognizes “beloved regional restaurants” that reflect the character of their communities.
BRAD KILGORE
- James Beard Finalist, Chef Bradley Kilgore was born and raised in Kansas City. After relocating to work and train in Denver, Italy, and Chicago, Chef Kilgore worked at the world-renowned restaurant Alinea In Chicago before leaving to open L2o under Chef Laurent Gras. Later, both restaurants garnered the honor of 3 Michelin Stars. He has now planted his feet in the beautiful city of Miami.
GERALD SOMBRIGHT
- Gerald Sombright is the first black man in America to earn a Michelin Star. With over twenty years of culinary experience in creativity and leadership. Gerald has been featured at culinary festivals in America such as Aspen, Pebble Beach, Charleston. Gerald has cooked at the James Beard house, contributing to that legacy. Gerald was the opening Chef de cuisine at Knife and Spoon earning one Michelin Star.
RYAN O’SULLIVAN
- Winner of Season 21 of Hell’s Kitchen, Ryan O’Sullivan was born in the vibrant city of Cork, Ireland, in 1993, is a culinary fanatic who embarked on his gastronomic journey from a youngage. His destiny as a chef was almost preordained, following in the footsteps of his father, From the moment Ryan could peer over the kitchen counter, he was captivated by the alchemy of cooking. While other kids tuned into cartoons, he was glued to the adventures of culinary giants like Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc, and Gary Rhodes on television.
ALLEN SUSSER
- James Beard Award winning renowned chef Allen Susser brings extensive expertise and experience in the culinary world to assist restaurants and hospitality businesses in achieving their goals and staying ahead in a competitive market.
ALEX BELEW
- Award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and podcast host Alex Belew is known for his culinary expertise.
ALESSANDRA CIUFFO
- Alessandra Ciuffo is a NYC-based chef and aspiring TV personality. You may recognize her from the Food Network’s Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-off. She competed and won an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games and has appeared in several episodes of the Rachael Ray Show.
VINNY ALTERIO
- Vincent ‘Vinny’ Alterio was born in Chicago and began his cooking career at the Peninsula Chicago. He has worked with Graham Elliot at his flagship restaurant as the chef and on “Master Chef” (as a guest judge) alongside Gordon Ramsey and Christina Tosi. In 2015, he decided to follow the seas and his dreams to a warmer climate. He ended up sailing into Cruz Bay, St. John, where he lives and works!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: lovangovi.com/taste-of-lovango.
For sponsorship opportunities, email: [email protected].
