This was revealed during the recent launch of the now revamped event now entitled BVI Food Fete Dine Out.

During the ceremony, Chairwoman of the Tourist Board, Kenisha Sprauve gave insight into the environment residents can expect during the November 20 to December 13 event.

She said: “When the occurrence of COVID-19 seriously challenged the staging of this year’s BVI Food Fete, the Board of Directors asked our team of professionals at the BVI Tourist Board to consider this an opportunity to showcase our culinary legacy in an unconventional manner. The team rose to the occasion and came up with a concept that would work within the parameters of our many protocols in effect with our food and beverage sector.”

“The event presents an opportunity to stimulate our palates while testing our protocols for restaurants and bars in preparation for the reopening of the territory to international guests on Tuesday, the 1st of December,” Sprauve added.

An intimate and personalised experience this year

The tourism chairwoman also said that because of the COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s scaled-down event will present a more intimate and personalised experience for all attendees.

“In a demonstration of BVILove, we have organised the events to avoid crowding, create an experience culture for our palates. As an added bonus, we will have the members of the award-winning BVI National Culinary Team presenting special delicacies at select venues,” she stated.

Schedule of activities

Meanwhile, BVITB Director Clive McCoy outlined some of the scheduled festivities in store for the four-week event.

He said: “On the 20th to the 22nd (November), we will have our culinary team at the participating restaurants on Tortola and on the 27th to 29th we will have them over on Anegada for the Lobster Fest.”

“Most of the restaurants that are participating on Anegada would have lobster dishes, we will provide some entertainment on the dock and it’s a different event than we have seen before. But, again, it’s still somewhere we can go and experience the culinary prowess over at Anegada, especially with the lobster,” he added.

He also said the dates for Virgin Gorda will be December 4 to 6, while Jost Van Dyke will be the final location from December 11 to 13.

All COVID-19 protocols will be heavily enforced.