OCEAN Style put Caribbean culinary excellence on display to a discerning audience of foodies, journalists and trendsetters last week at New York’s Studio 450. RESERVEDnyc’s Chefs of the Caribbean brought together a cross-section of chefs from the region and Caribbean chefs based in New York for an evening that showcased the rich and sophisticated culinary talents available in the Caribbean.
The featured chefs were Christophe Blatz, executive chef, Curtain Bluff Resort, Antigua (Antigua); Veejooruth Purmessur, group pastry chef, Sandals/Beaches Resorts (Bahamas); Sean John, chef-owner, Spur Tree Restaurant, New York (Jamaica); Kevin Broderick, executive chef, the Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel, Jamaica (Jamaica); and Kingsley John, SoCo Restaurant, New York (St. Lucia).
Enjoying a spectacular summer sunset and 360-degree views of the New York skyline, guests were first treated to a delicious array of passed hors d’oeuvres like jerk shrimp gumbo and curried goat sliders while sipping on signature cocktails that transported Manhattanites to the Caribbean. Thereafter, guests were taken downstairs to an intimate dinner. OCEAN Style Editor in Chief Douglas Gordon welcomed guests and introduced the chefs, allowing each to present their dishes.
“It was our first venture with a food event here in New York and we are very pleased with the feedback. The food was terrific and the space was spectacular. We are driven to showcase the best of the Caribbean, so from that perspective I am delighted with the end result. It took a tremendous effort on the part of our team, but full marks to them for what was achieved. The concept has met with great interest and we will look forward to developing the RESERVED series in the months to come.”
The evening also featured a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting “Project Runway” season 9 winner Anya Ayoung-Chee’s TallMan Foundation. The auction items include a four-day, three-night stay at Sandals Exuma, limited edition autographed prints from Marc Baptiste, Johnny Vincent and Walter Chin, garments from Catherine Malandrino, Calvin Klein and Ayoung-Chee’s own collection and other items. The auction will continue online at www.32auctions.com/tallmanfoundation until Aug. 10.