The Tastiest Celebration in the USVI
May 29 - JunE 1, 2024
Taste of Lovango features exclusive meals curated by world-renowned chefs, creative cocktails from local partners and an invigorating schedule of activities.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
overnight accommodations package
Choose from Luxury Treehouses, Cottages, Glamping Tents or a private Villa and enjoy complete access to the festival events throughout the week. Use code TAST to book overnight accommodations with tickets to all four events.
To book individual events after making overnight reservations, please call 340-625-0400 or email frontdesk@lovangovi.com
book by event
may 29-june1
Join from St. Thomas or St. John, browse the festival schedule and book tickets to the events you want to attend.
CHEF LINEUP
Stephen
Belie
Chef Belie’s culinary approach is rooted in using the freshest regional ingredients and teaching and mentoring staff on consistently producing high-quality food. Prior to joining Lovango as Director of Culinary & Executive Chef, he was Executive Chef at Noble House’s Little Palm Island Resort & Spa and Gateway Canyons Resort.
Brian
ArRuda
Brian Arruda is the Founder & CEO of premier chef-placement agency Executive Chefs at Home. Prior to this, he traveled the country working for acclaimed chefs including José Andrés, Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, working his way from prep cook to Executive Chef.
Robbie
Felice
James Beard Rising Star semifinalist Robbie Felice is the co-founder and chef-partner of the exclusive pop-up pastaRAMEN, as well as Viaggio Ristorante and Osteria Crescendo in New Jersey.
Tiffani
Faison
Chef, Restaurateur, TV personality, and Top Chef winner Tiffani Faison has made a name for herself nationwide for her dynamic personality, culinary prowess and fierce work ethic. Marking her many culinary achievements, the James Beard has nominated Tiffani as “Best Chef: Northeast” four times for Tiger Mama and Orfano.
Sam
Choy
Chef Sam Choy has been creating cuisine with fresh, local island ingredients since he was a boy learning to cook alongside his parents. Before the words “Farm-to-Table” ever came together, sourcing and cooking with the traditional foods of Hawai‘i was a way of life for Sam.
In 2004, Choy was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award America’s Classics Award for Sam Choy’s Kaloko in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. The award recognizes “beloved regional restaurants” that reflect the character of their communities.
BRad
Kilgore
James Beard Finalist, Chef Bradley Kilgore was born and raised in Kansas City. After relocating to work and train in Denver, Italy, and Chicago, Chef Kilgore worked at the world-renowned restaurant Alinea In Chicago before leaving to open L2o under Chef Laurent Gras. Later, both restaurants garnered the honor of 3 Michelin Stars. He has now planted his feet in the beautiful city of Miami.
Gerald
Sombright
Gerald Sombright is the first black man in America to earn a Michelin Star. With over twenty years of culinary experience in creativity and leadership. Gerald has been featured at culinary festivals in America such as Aspen, Pebble Beach, Charleston. Gerald has cooked at the James Beard house, contributing to that legacy. Gerald was the opening Chef de cuisine at Knife and Spoon earning one Michelin Star.
Ryan
O'Sullivan
Winner of Season 22 of Hell’s Kitchen, Ryan O’Sullivan, was born in the vibrant city of Cork, Ireland, in 1993, he is a culinary fanatic who embarked on his gastronomic journey from a young age. His destiny as a chef was almost preordained, following in the footsteps of his father, From the moment Ryan could peer over the kitchen counter, he was captivated by the alchemy of cooking. While other kids tuned into cartoons, he was glued to the adventures of culinary giants like Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc, and Gary Rhodes on television.
Allen
Susser
James Beard Award winning renowned chef Allen Susser, brings extensive expertise and experience in the culinary world to assist restaurants and hospitality businesses in achieving their goals and staying ahead in a competitive market.
Alex
Belew
Hell’s Kitchen Season 21 winner and Head Chef of Hell’s Kitchen Atlantic City, Tennessee Titans Celebrity Chef VIP Kickoff, branded content filmed for Clarksville Tourism, HexClad, Melin, Jimmy Dean / Tyson, and South Chicago Packing
Company.
Alessandra
Ciuffo
Alessandra Ciuffo is an NYC-based chef and aspiring TV personality. You may recognize her from the Food Network’s Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-off. She competed and won an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games, and has appeared in several episodes of the Rachael Ray Show.
Vinny
Alterio
Vincent ‘Vinny’ Alterio was born in Chicago and began his cooking career at the Peninsula Chicago. He has worked with Graham Elliot at his flagship restaurant as the chef and on “Master Chef” (as a guest judge) alongside Gordon Ramsey and Christina Tosi. In 2015, he decided to follow the seas and his dreams to a warmer climate. He ended up sailing into Cruz Bay, St. John, where he lives and works!
Kenny
Claxton
Kenny has been living and cooking in the Virgin Islands since 2012. Throughout this time, he has learned and appreciated how to work with local ingredients and the community. In 2022, he opened Fish Bar on
St. Thomas as the executive chef and partner, creating a concept that focuses on farm-to-table dining and supports local farmers and fishermen.
THE SCHEDULE
MAY 29
BEACH CLUB DAY EXPERIENCE
(10AM – 5:30PM)*
Spend the day at Lovango’s Beach Club with a special Taste of Lovango menu and retail pop-ups while you relax on island!
OPENING NIGHT STREET FAIR CELEBRATION FEATURING SAM CHOY, ALLEN SUSSER, VINNY ALTERIO, RYAN O’SULLIVAN, KENNY CLAXTON, STEPHEN BELIE & THE LOVANGO CULINARY TEAM & NUMEROUS COCKTAIL ACTIVATIONS. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY LOCAL DJ, HANZ WULF!
(6PM – 9PM)*
MAY 30
BEACH CLUB DAY EXPERIENCE
(10AM – 5:30PM)*
Spend the day at Lovango’s Beach Club with a special Taste of Lovango menu and retail pop-ups while you relax on island!
TASTE OF LOVANGO, A SIX-COURSE PRIX FIXE DINNER FEATURING CHEFS ALEX BELEW, GERALD SOMBRIGHT & ALESSANDRA CIUFFO HOSTED BY HEXCLAD
(6PM – 9PM)*
MAY 31
BEACH CLUB DAY EXPERIENCE
(10AM – 5:30PM)*
Spend the day at Lovango’s Beach Club with a special Taste of Lovango menu and retail pop-ups while you relax on island!
TASTE OF LOVANGO, A SIX-COURSE PRIX FIXE DINNER FEATURING CHEFS ROBBIE FELICE, BRIAN ARRUDA & BRAD KILGORE HOSTED BY HEXCLAD
(6PM – 9PM)*
JUNE 1
BEACH CLUB DAY EXPERIENCE
(10AM – 5:30PM)*
Spend the day at Lovango’s Beach Club with a special Taste of Lovango menu and retail pop-ups while you relax on island!
CARIBBEAN LOBSTER BAKE SPEARHEADED BY TIFFANI FAISON & LOVANGO’S EXECUTIVE CHEF STEPHEN BELIE
(6PM – 9PM)*
*times subject to change
GUEST APPEARANCE
Tiffani Faison
Chef, Restaurateur, TV personality, and Top Chef winner Tiffani Faison has made a name for herself nationwide for her dynamic personality, culinary prowess and fierce work ethic. Under Big Heart Hospitality, her Boston-based restaurant group, she creates restaurants that are warm, inspired and instantly lovable. Marking her many culinary achievements, the James Beard has nominated Tiffani as “Best Chef: Northeast” four times for Tiger Mama and Orfano, Boston Magazine awarded her “Best Chef: General Excellence” twice, and the Boston Business Journal has named her on its “Power 50” list. Tiffani lives in Boston and is a tireless advocate of LGBTQ human rights.
Todd Manley
Todd has been honored to receive numerous awards from “Chef of the Year” to multiple recognitions of his restaurants as the “best” in several categories, and nominated for an Elby Award. Since making St. Croix his home, he has opened 5 successful businesses in four years, continually reinvesting in Christiansted and St. Croix effectively pulling up the town by reinvigorating interest in Christiansted during an economically gloomy period of time. He continues to contribute to the global community through the promotion of Mutiny Island Vodka, breadfruit, and groups such as Trees That Feed Foundation to feed people, create jobs, and better the environment.
Premier Sponsors
Non-profit partner
preferred sponsors
Join the Fun
Reserve your overnight accommodations now in one of our Luxury Treehouses, Cottages, Glamping Tents or Villa and enjoy all the festivities.
