PALM BEACH -- Franz Sydow, director of food and beverage, just released the complete upcoming festival program for the first annual Aruba Wine and Arts Culinary Festiva1, which will take place at the Wyndham Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino May 19th through the 22nd, 2005.
The festival hosting partners are the resort and Jorge Curiel on behalf of the Aruba Trading Company. In addition to the local sponsors Franz reveals that almost thirty major wineries from the US will be participating, as well as local food purveyors and the Aruba Gastronomic Association.
Three days of food, wine, and art will be documented by Destination Aruba and Island Temptations magazines which have already pledged press coverage of the various events. Island Temptations, under the direction of Special Projects and Public Relations Director Rona Coster, will also coordinate the lineup of talented local artists that will be showcased during the event.
Franz hopes the festival will take off just as the South Beach festival did, attracting both locals and visitors, while promoting Aruba as a gourmet Mecca in the Caribbean.
Aruba’s first annual Wine & Arts Culinary Festival will also involve the newly formed Wine Club of Aruba, recruiting Govert van der Hoot of the Arion Wine Company and Clive Faustin with the Wine Barrel together with Romar Trading as wine suppliers. Apparently, a lot of wine will be poured for the duration of the festival.
Aruba’s National Culinary Team will be cooking up a storm one evening. Other famous local chefs from Hostaria da Vittorio, Chez Mathilde, Papiamento, and Flying Fishbone will be in charge on the following night. A celebrity chef, which will be announced latter this week, will be featured on the last night gala event.
“The festival,” says Franz, “takes off on Thursday, May 19th with the arrival and check in of dignitaries, representatives of American and European wineries, and international press. A press conference that evening at the Buena Vista room on the 17th floor of the resort will mark the launch of the festivities." Also asked to address the press-conference goers, Aruba’s Minister of Tourism Edison Briesen and Wyndham General Manager Rob Smith.
Franz will also be one of the speakers outlining the events unfolding, and introducing the local personalities destined to help make things happen: Ronald van Hasenbroek, the Captain of Aruba National Culinary Team, Wyndham’s Executive Chef Gerard Coste and local celebrity chefs Vittorio Muscariello from Hostaria Da Vittoroi’s, Eduard Ellis of Papiamento, and Jim Rooseman with Chez Mathilde are in charge of the culinary firecrackers.
Fern Pochettino, representing the Aruba Gastronomic Association, and Rona Coster, curator of the major Art Exhibit, will also share their bold plans with visitors.
The first annual Aruba Wine & Arts Culinary Festival is quickly shaping up as a major attraction for visitors and locals.
