“A Taste of Two Islands” Makes a Triumphant Return

After a three-year break due to the pandemic, “A Taste of Two Islands” marked its return to the Virgin Islands’ cultural scene. The event, in its 16th iteration, was hosted at the Mark Marin Center of the Antilles School, drawing a significant crowd eager to indulge in the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System (WTJX)’s celebrated culinary showcase.

The event featured a variety of culinary delights from renowned establishments such as Pesce, an Italian eatery at American Yacht Harbor, and The Pressure Spot, a vegan hotspot on Norre Gade, among others. Patrons enthusiastically cleared The Pressure Spot’s offerings, with Carol, a volunteer for the evening, highlighting the popularity of their pumpkin butternut squash soup and lion’s mane mushroom balls.

Participants like Barbara LaRonde, co-owner of The Pressure Spot, embrace the event for its marketing potential and its support of WTJX. Ms. LaRonde expressed her lifelong admiration for the station, praising its educational content and unique local programming.

Tanya Marie Singh, WTJX’s CEO, emphasized the station’s integral role in the community. She cited the broadcast of the opera “Champion”, about St. Thomian boxer Emile Griffith, as an example of the station’s commitment to delivering culturally rich and educational content.

Despite the event’s rescheduling from its traditional Veteran’s Day date, Ms. Singh was thrilled with the public’s robust turnout. Calvin White, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner and one of the evening’s judges, commended the high-quality dishes, particularly highlighting a few favorites like pumpkin soup and shrimp with grits.

Mr. White, reflecting on the event’s history, noted the eagerness of the community for its return. Looking ahead to 2024, he encouraged more residents to experience the culinary prowess of local chefs at the event’s next edition, set to revert to its November scheduling.