June 15 - 21, 2013
NEWS 21
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Food and Wine Festival date set MARK your calendars food and wine lovers of Providenciales; the date for the Turks and Caicos third annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival (CFWF) has been set for October 31 to November 3. Organisers were thrilled to announce that they will once again offer amazing cuisine and wonderful wine in an exciting event featuring prominent local chefs, celebrity chefs and renowned wine makers. Nikheel Advani, co-chairman of CFWF and COO and principal of Grace Bay Resorts said that the committee wants to make TCI a top culinary destination with this festival. He added that although the event is months away early booking is encouraged because every year the event has been sold out. The grand culinary event has an exciting line-up of prominent chefs including celebrated Master Chef, Tiffany Derry; Nelson Mandela's personal chef of 20 years, Xoliswa Ndoyiya; and chef, owner and founder of Momofuku Milk Bar, Christina Tosi. Winemakers to grace this year’s festivities include Nelson Mandela’s
daughter, Tukwini Mandela - House of Mandela; a top winemaker in South Africa, Richard Friedman - Moreson Wine Farm; Christopher W. Silva - St. Francis wines and returning winemaker Tuck Beckstoffer - Tuck Beckstoffer wines. Wolfgang Von Wieser, group director of Food and Beverage, Grace Bay Resorts said that they are really stepping it up from last year; with different styles, foods and ingredients. He said it will be a fascinating event that will be even bigger and better than those in the past. Anthony Garland, co-chairman of CFWF and operations manager at The Wine Cellar/Discount Liquors said there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to plan “another unforgettable event this year”. The organising committee did not divulge the schedule of events but revealed that there will be dining on the beach, a chance to meet and mingle with the celebrity chefs and winemakers, food and wine parings, and of course many culinary delights and wonderful wines. The committee partners with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism
Parents and community members enjoy a great event while raising funds for the Ashcroft School improvement projects
Organisers announce Caribbean Food and Wine Festival 2013. From left, Chef Wolfgang Von Wieser, TCHTA’s Stacy Cox, co-founders Nikheel Advani and Anthony Garland, Youth Director Angela Musgrove and Wine Cellar’s Murad Mohammad
Association and the ‘lil chefs’, giving them an opportunity to work along with top chefs to prepare amazing high end cuisine. Association executive of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, Stacy Cox expressed
satisfaction that “people are now coming to the Turks and Caicos for our Food and Wine Festival which is a great marketing strategy for the destination and we look forward to going from good to great with the event.”
Organisers promise a fascinating festival and judging from reviews of past events they can certainly satisfy attendees and make TCI known, not only for its natural beauty but also as a delightful culinary destination. (KH)
PTA president Kelcey Grandsire reveals winners of the raffle competition and silent auction
The Ashcroft School hosts ‘Marvelous’ fundraiser
THE ASHCROFT school’s PTA hosted a ‘Marvelous Masquerade Party’ on Friday (June 7), providing great entertainment to attendees while raising funds for some school improvement projects and a local charity. The event, held at the Blue Haven Resort in Leeward, saw an excellent turnout of supporters and raised thousands of dollars to assist with shading the basketball court and the creation of an outdoor musical garden. Principal David O’Connell said that with the parents’ active involvement in the school, a lot
is achieved in making the school environment more wholesome. In the past years, money was raised for playground equipment and other amenities to add comfort and a better learning environment for students. Last year’s earnings were ejected back into the school via an iPad learning lab to allow the children to have a bit more innovative learning in the school, O’Connell said. A range of new play equipment for the younger children, a bike rack for the budding young cyclists and coconut palms and benches for quiet
moments during recess were also purchased. PTA president Kelcey Grandsire said she was pleased that when the parents see a need they will do anything to support the kids. Grandsire and other members of the organising committee were looking forward to raising at least $18,000, a figure that they have managed to acquire in previous fundraisers. Apart from ticket sales, funds were gathered from raffle sales and a silent auction which included fabulous prizes like paintings from
Attendees bid on fabulous auction items including paintings from children, themed gift baskets, dinners and massages
children, themed gift baskets, dinners, massages and more. The school also plans to donate
part of the night’s earnings to the TCI Red Cross to assist with their needs. (KH)