The Tribune

ABACO has carved out a new niche tourism market that is drawing food lovers to the island.

Green Turtle Cay, Abaco’s first ever, “Devour! The Beach” food and wine festival brought foodies and chefs from all around the world to experience the taste of the Bahamas.

The festival, which was the brainchild of Executive Chef of the Green Turtle Club Michael Howell, welcomed five extraordinary chefs to cook spectacular food in its first year. They emphasized the use of local products throughout the festival.

Chef Howell explained that he wanted to create an event that would help get heads in beds.

“Having been the executive chef here at the Green Turtle Club off and on since 1999, I think we all know that we have been challenged with trying to reinvent tourism here,” he said. “We have all seen a decrease in tourism around the country. So when I came to the club in a consultant capacity nearly a year and a half ago, I think that it was really inspiring that we bring a new traveller here to the Bahamas – the culinary adventurer, the person that no matter their economic state they are still going for great eating and dining experiences around the world.”

Chef Howell said a similar event is held in the Cayman Islands.

“I said ‘Why can’t we do that in the Bahamas and why can’t we do that in a place like Abaco that has great seafood but has always been overlooked for culinary?’ We have great, rustic food, but we also have extraordinary chefs,” he said.

Manager of Bahamas Tourist Office in Abaco Wynsome Ferguson said “Devour! The Beach” gave travellers another reason to visit Abaco.

“I think it is a wonderful thrust for Abaco and The Bahamas,” she said. “This is something new and we are always looking for new and exciting things and it’s a wonderful thing to add to our product.”

General Manager at the Green Turtle Cay Club Molly McIntosh said the event caused the waterfront resort to be filled all weekend.

“It has brought people to the island who might have not ordinarily come,” she said. “It’s brought business to the island not just for Devour, but they have done other things. We are full and without the event we probably would be half full.”

Tourists who attended the festival said they have every intention of coming back.

“I can’t say enough about how wonderful Abaco is. What I love about this event – the food has been extraordinary. The wine has just been fantastic. It’s the best of the best and that is why you have this amazing food experience,” said Kelly Euroba, a resident of New Jersey.

William Henny, from British Columbia, Canada, came into Green Turtle Cay on a 70-foot yacht.

“It’s been a wonderful experience and the venue the Green Turtle Club is fantastic. The Bahamas needs to have more programmes like this to bring people in because it is a beautiful country,” he said. “I want to do this again.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” said Peter Wells, of London. “It’s my first time in the Bahamas and I will definitely be back. The food was wonderful. It was melt in your mouth food and I will definitely be back.”