Friendly – and Tasty – Competition is Building For 2016 Rotary Flavors Of St. John Fundraiser

The competition is heating up, but the music will be cool!

More than two dozen St. John dining and drinking establishments and food and beverage purveyors are expected for the annual St. John Rotary FLAVORS event–and  Cool Sessions Brass band will be bringing the brass for dancing–at the Westin Resort on Saturday, November 19, from 6 to 11 p.m.

The mouth-watering, annual early-season “friendly competition” between established island restaurants, resorts, caterers and private chefs benefits St. John Rotary Club’s projects:  from multiple college scholarships, school dictionaries, planners and supplies, to reading book distributions and a variety of other community projects.  This year, the Rotary Club is working on developing a community career/vocational learning center in Cruz Bay.

Guest judges, including at least one celebrity chef, guarantee someone will get professional bragging rights for the tastiest culinary creations and libations – and organizers are trying to stir up the friendly competitive juices of island chefs and mixologists.

Competition from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay

Coral Bay’s Indigo is scheduled to make the competition for the island’s taste buds an internecine battle with its “distant cousin” Cruz Bay’s Rhumblines; while Wharfside Village will be sending Joe Decourcy’s international fine dining tag-team of Vista Mare and Waterfront Bistro.

Little Olive, the smallest St. John gourmet Greek restaurant in a van, will be bringing a few of its most popular offerings.  Young island gastronomes from The Gifft Hill School Farm to Table program will also be in the food fray, to name just a few.

Other island venues including Extra Virgin, The Terrace, The Bowery, Marguerita Phil’s are juggling new staff hirings and opening schedules in hopes of entering the competition.  The full line-up will be updated as new entries are registered.

From Sushi to Mixology

The island’s newest sushi restaurant, Cruz Bay’s Umami, is anxious to compete for seafood taste buds and they may stir up some neighborly competition with the fledgling culinary chops of neighboring The Longboard.

Another competition may be stirred up – or shaken – between a number of mixologists and wine and liquor distributors who are expected to showcase their wares – from the aptly-named DRINK! to a lineup of beer, wine and liquor purveyors, including Sugar Fingaz Bar Maids and, hopefully, St. John Brewers’ latest St. John-brewed beverages.

Silent Auction Features Island Treasures

There also will be a silent auction of wonderful items and gift certificates donated by scores of island businesses.

Tickets are available at Connections in Coral Bay and Cruz Bay, Chelsea Drug Store in Red Hook and at the Marketplace,  St. John Hardware, St. John Properties, Trevor’s Activity Center at Mongoose Junction, or on line at www.flavorsstjohn.com.

All proceeds benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund and other community projects. Card carrying food handlers can check out their competitors for a $75 donation and tickets are available to everyone else in advance for $100 or for $110 at the door of the Westin Resort Ballroom event.  Your donation is tax deductible.