Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE) has announced this year’s featured talent, including Anguilla-born Chef Kerth Gumbs, Chicago-based Chefs Douglas Psaltis and Hsing Chen, Saint-Martin’s Chef Sébastien Barrière and wine expert Leigh Ann Reed of Napa Valley, CA.
ACE 2025 returns for its fourth year from April 30 to May 4 with a full menu of seaside parties, intimate dinners, hands-on demos, beach barbecues and competitions at the island’s luxury resorts, private villas and restaurants.
ACE 2025 kicks off on April 30 with the opening night party, “Taste the Magic of Malliouhana.” The resort’s Culinary Dream Team, helmed by local celebrity chef and Culinary Director Kerth Gumbs, fuses modern style with the cuisine of Anguilla’s luxury resort. Inspired by the flavors of Malliouhana’s three signature restaurants, Celeste by Kerth Gumbs, Bar Soleil and Leon’s at Meads Bay, as well as Anguilla’s favorite barbecue hotspots and classic island favorites, “Taste the Magic of Malliouhana” offers an authentic taste of Anguilla. Travelers booking Malliouhana’s ACE 2025 accommodations package receive two complimentary tickets to the opening night party.
On Thursday, May 1, guest chef Sébastien Barrière of Les Galets Intimate Dining Experience will join forces with Chef Gerard MacDonna of Sharky’s restaurant. The duo, and their co-hosts Altamer and Cape Air, will take guests on a “Flavors of Altamer” journey exploring the island’s indigenous ingredients. The evening starts with rooftop cocktails at Altamer’s Antilles Pearl Villa, then moves to the resort’s Blue Diamond Villa’s oceanfront terrace for dinner. That same night, Savi Beach Club on Meads Bay will pay tribute to Italy’s patron of revelry at its “Bacchus Feast, A Roman Celebration.” The gran festa includes culinary stations celebrating the essence of Italy as well as Executive Chef Dario Schiavo’s homemade pasta and regional favorites, a live band, floor show and an after-party with DJ and dancing.
On Thursday and Friday (May 2), guest chef-owners Doug Psaltis and Hsing Chen of Chicago’s Michelin-recognized Andros Taverna, neighborhood trattoria Mano a Mano and Basque-inspired steakhouse Asador Bastian, will merge their Mediterranean culinary storytelling with Veya Anguilla chef-owner Carrie Bogar’s cuisine of the sun at a six-hands tasting dinner paired with wines from Grands Vins de France Anguilla. ACE co-chairs Neil and Wendy Freeman and Trophy Properties Caribbean’s Steve and Debbie Haines are hosting the respective nights at the Freeman’s oceanfront Villa Alegria in Cul de Sac.
Also on Friday, Jacala Beach Restaurant’s chef-owner Alain Laurent will partner with Nathalie Le Sénéchal, manager of Grands Vins de France Anguilla, and Leigh Ann Reed, vice president of international sales for wine company Boisset Collection, to present an evening of “Napa Valley Wines and French Fare with Caribbean Flair” at his Meads Bay Beach restaurant. Each course will be accompanied by wines from California’s Raymond Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards and Elizabeth Spencer Winery.
On Saturday, May 3, the NCBA and Cape Air “Beach BBQ + Basket & Bartending Battles” returns to Anguilla Great House Beach Resort on Rendezvous Bay Beach. The Anguilla National Culinary Team squares off in lively cooking and bartending mystery basket challenges. The top chef and bartender win a cash prize and a career mentoring session with Malliouhana’s Culinary Director Kerth Gumbs, Executive Chef Wilson Macedo, Head Chef Kelston “Sweets” Connor and mixologist Taffy Hodge-Roland.
During the day, guests can learn how to transform freshly caught fish into SALT restaurant’s signature ceviche with Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla’s Executive Chef Manu Calderon, enjoy an around-the-island progressive lunch, cook Johnny Cakes in an outdoor oven, search for the beach bar with the best rum punch in a Moke driven by local guides from Quest Experiences, and explore Anguilla’s 35 square miles of natural beauty, 33 beaches and 100 restaurants. Malliouhana will close out this year’s ACE with a “Sunday Funday” beach party on May 4 at Leon’s at Meads Bay.
For more information and tickets, visit www.anguillaculinaryexperience.com.
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