There is something about watching a good cook at work that makes you want to stay a little longer. Perhaps it is the aroma as ingredients meet a hot pan, the ease with which a sauce comes together, or that small piece of advice you know you will try the next time you cook.
On Friday, 6 November, the Barbados Food and Rum Festival’s International Chef Demonstrations invite you to share in that pleasure. Across three locations, six accomplished chefs will bring their experience, personalities and culinary traditions to a day of free live cooking demonstrations and samples.
Under the invitation “Come Taste and See,” these sessions offer a closer look at the craft behind the plate. Local and international chefs will share techniques rooted in generations of culinary knowledge, exploring everything from fermentation and charring to layering flavours and precision plating. Along the way, guests will hear the stories that give those flavours meaning.
Whether you are an enthusiastic home cook, a culinary student, or simply someone who enjoys a delicious discovery, there is a place for you.
In Speightstown Esplanade, St. Peter, the day begins at 10 a.m. with South African chef Wandile Mabaso. Raised in Soweto, Mabaso’s career has taken him through kitchens in New York and Paris, including Le Meurice Alain Ducasse. His work brings African food traditions into conversation with classical French technique, guided by a deep interest in preserving culinary heritage.
At 4 p.m., Chef Jae-Anthony Dougan-Holder takes over with his inventive approach to Caribbean cuisine. Known for creating jerk chicken poutine and for appearances on Top Chef Canada and Food Network’s Wall of Chefs, he brings a playful curiosity to the possibilities within familiar flavours.
Over at Pile Bay, Spring Garden, St. Michael, Chef Debra Sardinha opens proceedings at 10 a.m. Affectionately known as Chef Debbie, the Trinidadian chef has spent her career sharing Caribbean cuisine with audiences around the world. The first female Executive Chef for Hilton in the Americas and Caribbean, she brings a wealth of experience and a gift for telling Caribbean stories through food.
At 4 p.m., Kareen “Chef Coco” Linton brings her own blend of creativity, education and community spirit. Originally from Barbados and raised in Brooklyn, Chef Coco is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate and culinary educator whose work reflects her belief in food’s ability to connect people.
At Hastings Rocks, Christ Church, Chef Jason Howard takes the spotlight at 10 a.m. The Barbadian-born chef combines classical British and French training with the ingredients and stories of the Caribbean. Now Chef in Residence at Local & Co. Barbados, his local-first approach celebrates the farmers, fishers and producers behind a memorable meal.
The afternoon belongs to Chef Aiko “Chef Aiks” Rudder-Jones, appearing at 4 p.m. The founder of Toronto-based Bim Street Eats has built her brand around Bajan flavours, hospitality and cultural storytelling. Her work introduces new audiences to Barbadian cuisine while keeping a strong connection to home.
Together, these chefs offer six distinct perspectives on how food carries memory, travels across borders and finds fresh expression. For the public, it is an opportunity to experience that creativity up close, pick up inspiration for the kitchen and enjoy a taste of what makes the festival special.
Bring a friend, bring your curiosity and come ready to discover something delicious. Admission is free, and the invitation is open to residents and visitors alike.
Join the Barbados Food and Rum Festival on Friday, 6 November, at Speightstown Esplanade, Pile Bay or Hastings Rocks, with demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at each location.
Follow @foodandrumbarbados on Instagram for more information.
Come for the flavours. Stay for the stories. Come taste and see.
The post Come Taste and See: The World’s Flavours Meet at Barbados’ International Chef Demos appeared first on Barbados Today.
