Barbados Food & Rum Festival kicks off in October
O2 Beach Club & Spa Welcomes Chef Michael O'Hare for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2024
O2 Beach Club & Spa is hosting celebrity Michelin star Chef Michael O'Hare for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2024, taking place 24th – 27th October 2024. The festival has just been named the Caribbean's Best Culinary Festival by the World Culinary Awards, hosted in Dubai, for the second consecutive year.
The Barbados Food and Rum Festival is a celebration of the island's rich culinary heritage and vibrant rum culture. This star-studded four-day event showcases the talents of Barbados' most renowned rum producers alongside local and international chefs and culinary personalities. Barbados is known as the "Birthplace of Rum" and the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean", and the festival is where it converges for a series of delectable events. The 2023 Festival was awarded the Caribbean's Best Culinary Festival by World Culinary Awards.
Michael O'Hare, the UK celebrity chef, whose TV appearances include The Great British Menu, Saturday Kitchen, MasterChef, Yes Chef, and Cooking with the Stars, burst onto the culinary scene in 2014 with, The Man Behind the Curtain. a renowned, avant-garde restaurant located in Leeds, England. The restaurant quickly garnered attention for its innovative and visually striking dishes, leading to it receiving a Michelin star in 2015.
One of the festival's most anticipated events is Elevate by Oro, hosted by Michael O'Hare. Oro, the resort's eighth-floor restaurant with stunning 260-degree views of the South Coast serves as the backdrop for an exclusive culinary journey. Guests will savour a meticulously curated food and rum pairing dinner showcasing Michaels's international flair blended with Oro's refine Bajan influence. Elevate by Oro takes place on 26th October.
Additionally, as part of the festival's prestigious Chef Classics programme Michael O'Hare will demonstrate his culinary mastery with a cooking demonstration at Oro on 25th October.
"We are honoured to host the prolific Chef Michael O'Hare at O2 Beach Club & Spa during the Barbados Food and Rum Festival," said Christopher Eastmond, General Manager of O2 Beach Club & Spa. "This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing exceptional and memorable experiences for our guests. We look forward to celebrating the vibrant culinary culture of Barbados with Chef O'Hare's extraordinary talents."
Other festival highlights include:
· Oistins Under the Stars on 24th October where grilled fish, delicious cocktails and Barbadian entertainment is the perfect recipe for a top tier fish fry
· Rum Route on 25th October, a rum-shop hop as well as rum distillery tours which include rum tastings. This moving party is complimentary for guests staying at O2 Beach Club & Spa
· Liquid Gold Feast on 27th October, an evening of premium cocktails served by liquid artists, cuisine made by the finest local chefs and entertainment from local artists
Guests staying at the fully-inclusive O2 Beach Club & Spa during the festival will experience inhouse gourmet experiences and access to the festival, as well as use of the resort's luxurious amenities. Situated on the white-sand Dover Beach, O2 Beach Club & Spa features 7 bars, 4 restaurants, 3 pools – one of which sits on a rooftop terrace –, golf, and a fully-equipped gym. The award-winning Acqua Spa is the place to indulge in spa treatments located on the seventh floor with floor-to-ceiling windows for unparalleled ocean views and the only hammam experience on the island.
