S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup of Caribbean at Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta

by Icarus Sailing on 22 Apr 2015 The 28th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta began on Wednesday, April 15th, and concluded on April 21st, 2015 following an array of events that included a Concourse d’Elegance, four days of yacht racing and a full schedule of social events. Forty-six magnificent sailing yachts from many different eras with competitors from over 20 foreign nations traveled to Antigua, West Indies to compete for the 2015 Antigua title and the cherished Officine Panerai timepiece.

In conjunction with the exclusive EFG Bank Owners Party event, S.Pellegrino hosted the Inaugural S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup of the Caribbean competition. Established in Venice, Italy fifteen years ago, the S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup has become an international and unique event that welcomes sailors, chefs and fine dining lovers from all over the world. The regatta is a successful combination of some of the most appreciated and world-renowned values of the Italian lifestyle: the pleasure of togetherness, the art of fine food and the passion for sailing.

Four famous Chefs, from four different Caribbean islands have been invited by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna - the fine dining waters - to experience this first edition of the S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup of the Caribbean: Elijah Jules from St.Lucia, Rene Klop from Curacao, Dino Jagtiani from St. Maarten and Roderick Beazer from Antigua.

The winner of the Inaugural S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup of the Caribbean, through the People’s Choice Award, was Dino Jagtiani from Temptation Restaurant in St. Maarten. Dino presented a delicious virgin olive oil pound cake with rosemary scented tempura apple, lemon crème “en pipette” garnished with vanilla panna cotta, and pistachio brittle. “I would like to thank S.Pellegrino for this experience” said Dino Jagtiani. “I think the event was a success and I am happy and honored to have won this competition. I hope to be invited back in the future!”

Elijah Jules from Jade Mountain Club Resort in St.Lucia delighted guests with a St. Lucian green banana salad with grilled fish, citrus souscaille and Caribbean slaw. Rene Klop from Baoase Luxury Resort in Curacao enchanted with a lovely Tuna in sesame dish garnished with many different island flavors including a Tamarind puree. Local Antigua Chef Roderick Beazer from Curtain Bluff Resort prepared an exquisite pan seared red snapper, Antiguan pepper pot, banana ketchup, plantain crisp and tomato chips.

The S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup of the Caribbean came to an exciting end with Giorgia Concato, Sanpellegrino Business Development Manager for the Caribbean, presenting to the chefs a prize as a token of appreciation for their dishes that offered a real mix of their own country’s cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Yacht owners and VIP congratulated the chefs with a long and heartfelt applause. The event took place at the slick South Point Hotel and Restaurant overlooking the Antigua Yacht Club Marina.

On Friday April 17th, the chefs experienced a day of racing on KAIRÓS a glorious 2-mast-schooner 38 meters (125 foot) long. Ideal Caribbean sailing conditions made the sailing experience unique and memorable. “We’ve been happy and honored to have been able to provide the backdrop to S.Pellegrino for this event,” said regatta Chairman Julian Gildersleeve. “I think it has been a very positive experience for everyone involved. The party was definitely the talk of the dock and was very well received by all the yacht owners.”

With their participation in the Inaugural edition of this Cooking Cup of the Caribbean, S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, synonymous with the gourmet food and wine culture across the globe and true ambassadors of the art of Italian living, reaffirm their commitment to enhancing and consolidating the fine dining culture all over the world.