Savour the flavour of the Caribbean

The 2008 Nevis International Culinary Heritage Exposition (NICHE), taking place 17-19 October, celebrates top chefs from Nevis and throughout the Caribbean while exploring the traditions and culture of this small and sophisticated island paradise in the West Indies. The Nevis Tourism Authority, long known for its success in encouraging savvy travellers to experience the island’s superb inns, hotels and resorts for rest and relaxation, will host this culinary extravaganza and invites participants to savour the best in food and beverage.

Garcia Thompson-Hendrickson, CEO of the Nevis Tourism Authority, noted, “We encourage visitors to attend the intimate culinary demonstrations as well as the outstanding dining events held at various locales around the island. NICHE offers a unique opportunity to learn about Caribbean cuisine and culture.”

In its fourth year, NICHE blends gourmet cuisine, Caribbean specialities and a dash of Nevisian culture for the right mix of ingredients for a well-balanced and full-bodied culinary experience. The weekend-long event will showcase simple farm-to-table demonstrations, a tropical beach barbecue, wine and cheese pairings and elaborate gourmet tasting menus for lunch and dinner, plus much more.

“The Caribbean is home to some brilliant culinary talents and we’re pleased that NICHE provides the venue to celebrate them,” said Helen Kidd, president of Kidd & Associates, a consultant for the Nevis Tourism Authority and this year’s NICHE organiser. “As we say, ‘Great food is our NICHE’ here in Nevis and the success of this festival has made it a centrepiece of the region’s culinary scene. It’s a foodie’s fantasy.”

Acclaimed chefs throughout the region (as well as a surprise appearance from a celebrity chef or two) will sharpen their knives and flex their culinary muscles in a series of cooking demonstrations, seminars and gourmet showcases at Old Manor Hotel, one of Nevis’ original plantation inns.

Other NICHE highlights include:

- Walking tour of Mansa’s Last Stop, a local farm and produce market
- Beach barbecue with martini and aged rum tasting bars at Coco Beach
- Veuve Clicquot champagne reception and gala (tasting stations) dinner complete with Hennessy cognac bar and cigar rolling at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis
- Aged rum and chocolate tastings / wine and cheese pairings
- Table décor presentations
- Lunch prepared by the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis Culinary Team

Those interested in attending NICHE can purchase tickets for individual events or a complete package ($440 USD/approx. ?222) for access to all scheduled events. For more information or to reserve tickets and book accommodations at special NICHE rates, visit Nevis-niche.com.

The island of Nevis is located in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies archipelago. This tiny jewel is just eight miles long and six miles wide, yet it has a natural beauty that is unparalleled. Lord Horatio Nelson used Nevis as a base of operations in the mid-1780s and married a Nevisian, Frances Nisbet in 1787. Nevis continued to be part of the British colonial holdings until 1983, at which time it gained independence, and still exhibits the British influence today, with traditional afternoon tea and driving on the left side of the road.

Its green foothills support tropical rainforests, secluded valleys, historic plantations and the remains of sugarcane fields while its turquoise waters lap palm-fringed beaches. For more information about the island of Nevis, log on to Nevisisland.com.