Spices of the Caribbean Food Festival September 7 -11, 2012

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - August 15th, 2012 - Soufriere, St. Lucia, August  12, 2012...Travelers staying at St. Lucia's Jade Mountain Resort between September 7 - 11 are in for a particularly spicy treat. Under the auspices of consulting Chef Allen Susser, the resort will celebrate Spices of the Caribbean, a tasty excursion into the region's spice box with special cocktails, meals and excursions.  This is a culinary journey exploring the diversity of spices grown in the region promising to take the sensory experiences to yet another level at this super scenic luxury hideaway. 

Participants will be taken into a world of faraway flavors and places. Specific combinations of herbs, spices, and flavorings characterize the great dishes of the world's cuisines. These mixtures are influenced by the foodstuffs native to each region, being distinctive by the climate, architecture of the land and local culture.

Here is a sample of the five day spice fest.

Friday September 7th

"Spicy" and Delicious Cocktail party 6:00-7:00 pm in the Jade Mountain Club
Join the world famous Consulting Chef Allen Susser as he shares his talents and passion for food.. Take pleasure in a complimentary handmade Jade Spiced Rum cocktail, using nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and cloves. Taste the Jade Cuisine and learn about our exotic local St Lucian spice box.

Saturday September 8th

Morning Tour of Nick Troubetzkoy's Emerald Gardens and  Spice Garden  hosted by Chef Allen Susser 9:00- 11:00am
Take an engaging walking and tasting tour of the Organic Garden at Emerald Estate to see firsthand the Jade Cuisine concept. Spicing secrets are revealed in a cooking class led by Chef Allen.  Learn how each of the Caribbean islands was influenced by their role in the spice trade. ($35)

Caribbean Beach spices jerk cooking class 2:30 - 3:30 at the Beach Restaurant
Resort Chef Jonathan will work with the resident Jerk master Gary to uncover the spicing secrets of beach front cooking and grilling in the Caribbean. They will share the secrets techniques in spicing up a great jerk chicken. Of course we will have a bucket of beers on ice for all to enjoy. ($20)

Chef Allen's Spices of the Caribbean Cooking Class:  4:00 - 5:00pm.
A live interactive cooking demonstration located in the Jade Mountain Lounge (Complimentary for all Jade guests)

Dinner: An exotic, Spice Influenced dinner at Jade Mountain Club
A specially prepared five-course dinner spectacular with a Seasonal and Sustainable Menu using locally caught fish and seafood, organic grown produce and spectacular spices. The theme is a mosaic of dish from throughout the Caribbean that influences our Jade Cuisine. ($95) The dinner can be accompanied by a pairing of carefully selected wines from our wine cellar to match each course.  ($50)

Sunday  September 9th

A "Spicy" Breakfast in Bed
The menu for this morning is just a little spicy, but light and refreshing:  featuring seasonal exotic fruits, fresh baked breads, artisan cheeses and freshly brewed St Lucian native coffee or hand selected loose leaf teas. All in your room! (Regular breakfast rates apply)

Anse Mamin - Jungle Burger Bash 12:00 - 2:00 pm
How about spicing up your burger? Each of the resort's restaurant chefs will prepare and present a signature - out of this world burger. This fabulous beach party is the first Burger competition of its kind in the Caribbean. We will include delicious side dishes, salad and condiments that will complement each burger. Buckets of Piton beer and Rum Punches will quench and satisfy. ($35)

Monday September 10th

Morning Spice Work Shop - the wonders of spices. 11:00am - 12:00pm in the Tree House
Learn how to cook like a chef. Chef Allen and Chef Jonathan will share how to blend spice favorites in an interactive spice blending class. ( $20)

Lunch on our private beach at the Jungle Grill at Anse Mamin
Take a water taxi over and enjoy a leisurely lunch grilled under the shade of the mangos and palm trees. The menu is simple and delicious and spiced - if you like... featuring fresh caught fish and salads. (Jungle grill a la carte rates apply)

Tour the Plantation at Anse Mamin without special guide Meno at 1:45pm
The grounds include an old and tropical plantation called Anse Mamin. The plantation was originally a sugar cane plantation in the 18th century, until changing hands turned to Cocoa plants. The cocoa plants are still numerous on the grounds for guests to see and for the hotels to produce its own estate chocolate. In Anse Mamin one can find turmeric, tamarind, cashews, mangoes, avocados, oranges, tangerines, guavas, papaya, coconut, bread fruit, yams and sweet potatoes. The superior taste and quality of the ingredients as well as the connection to the earth is inspiring. Anse Mamin is a wonderful resource. (Complimentary for all guests)

Monday Evening Managers greeting cocktail party 6:00 - 7:00
Meet on the celestial terrace for exotic, tropical cocktails and Spicy passed Hors D'Oeurves. Sunset is beautiful, bring your cameras. (Complimentary for all Jade guests)

Tuesday September 11th

A Spicy complimentary cooking class starts at 5:30pm. - located in the Jade Club lounge.
Spices of the Caribbean - interactive cooking class is hosted by Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden. "I will teach some of our trade secrets such as how to spice a fish and cook it to perfection. As a Caribbean Chef I spend a lot of time hand picking my own ingredients available all over the island. I like to share my experiences with our guests."

In December 13 - 16, Jade Mountain will be holding its annual chocolate festival...a delicious, interactive and exotic introduction to the world's favorite aphrodisiac - chocolate.Rising majestically above an exclusive 600 acre beachfront estate, JADE MOUNTAIN is an architectural marvel celebrating St. Lucia's stunning scenic beauty. The sanctuaries are grand sweeping spaces with extravagantly sized private infinity pools which appear to float out to nature and to the amazing views of the Pitons and Caribbean Sea - views you are not likely to ever forget.

For more information call 800-223-1108

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