by Tracy Moore
For Carol Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), the Barbados Food and Rum Festival represents far more than a celebration of cuisine – it is a canvas for the island’s creativity, a showcase of Barbadian talent at every level.
“The Food and Rum Festival is a little different because it’s all about the food and the rum, which was an exciting scope of work for us because we were determined that Barbadians and visitors alike would have a wonderful culinary experience,” she said.
Chef, author & storyteller for NYC & Netflix, Food Network + Bravo Passion on the Cutting Board, Renee Blackman returns to Barbados for the festival.
She continued: “Another innovation was to make sure that the international chefs were actually Bajans who are taking the culinary world, the global world, by storm. So whether it was Paul Carmichael or Jason Howard in the UK or Jay Anthony in Canada or Kamila from Brazil or Michael Harrison from Antigua or Renee Blackman from Atlanta, we wanted to show not only our pride in what they have achieved, but to show that they still carry what is intrinsic to them. I’m a Bajan. This is the food that my grandmother made, my mother made, my great grandmother made, but this is my twist on it.”
For Roberts, that blending of tradition and modern flair captures the essence of the festival.
“After all, it is a food and rum festival. And again, I’m confident that that’s what we did. The chefs were the stars,” she added.
She said the inclusion of Barbadian chefs working abroad has given the festival a new dimension: “We wanted to show that they still carry what is intrinsic to them. I’m a Bajan… but this is my twist on it.”
The festival, Roberts noted, is not an isolated production but part of a broader November season that celebrates Barbadian culture and independence.
“November is also NIFCA, an independence event, and the Spirit of the Nation show. So it’s just a month of celebrating who we are, the very best of who we are,” she said. “At a time when you get so mired in what needs fixing, what’s not quite right, both at the macro and the micro level, and you’ve got to go to work every day, children have got to go to school – I think November is ideal for stepping back, doing a few dance steps back and saying, look, I’m a Bajan. I’m so proud to be a Bajan. These are my people. These are my stars. We are all one. Let’s celebrate.”
Looking beyond the festival, Roberts said the improvement in the quality and creativity of national events is evident across the board.
“More and more improved as we go forward. That is tribute to our event promoters and our service providers who are just making sure that each event is not only bespoke, but it is very special. It’s hitting that mark, hitting that standard. So yeah, we are hard at work and won’t stop.”
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