The Tobago Blue Food Festival 2023 – It’s A Unique Experience!
by Lou-Ann Jordan Oct 2, 2023
Since 1997, Tobago has contributed to the line-up of Caribbean food festivals with one that rivals all others. It’s a truly unique experience. Intending to forge a relationship between the agriculture and tourism sectors, Tobago embarked on something different—the Blue Food Festival. It was a new spin on food festivals and the realisation of local villagers’ desire to produce an event that they could own as ‘dere ting’.
Over the last 26 years, the Blue Food Festival has become an agrotourism spectacle that has continued to garner interest. More importantly, as one of the top events in Tobago, it offers locals an opportunity to showcase their exceptional culinary skills by creatively incorporating root vegetables in diverse ways.
On 15 October 2023, visitors will once again have a chance to enjoy the culinary genius of local chefs as they serve up innovative dishes featuring dasheen or ‘taro’. The Blue Food Festival 2023 occurs at Bloody Bay Recreational Grounds. Typically, there are several booths, each offering delicious dasheen-inspired fare.
In the past, wonders have been done with everything from the leaves to the root vegetable. Guests have been treated to taro wine, ice cream and toffee. Dasheen has been incorporated as flour to make numerous delicacies—dasheen banana bread, anyone? It’s also found its way into condiments such as pepper sauce. Have you ever tasted dasheen buss-up shut, dasheen pizza, dasheen jam, and dasheen black cake? You just may get the opportunity this October.
We anticipate there will be even greater gastronomic innovation among chefs this year as they push the boundaries, exhibiting their prowess. Other activities include a farmers’ market, a craft corner, a petting zoo, and a games booth for the kids. Of course, such an event can only be completed with live performances.
It’s going to be an event you can’t afford to miss. If you’re visiting and looking for things to do in Tobago, then gather the family and friends on Sunday and head to Bloody Bay.
For more information on the Tobago Blue Food Festival 2023, visit the Tobago Festivals website or Facebook page. You can also contact them at 1-868-639-4441.
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Dasheen and many other root vegetables or ground provisions possess substantial health benefits. We know you may enjoy your ground provisions, but do you know their nutritional value? Check out our article: Here are the Health Benefits of Four of Your Favourite Ground Provisions.
Sources: Tobago Beyond and Tobago Festivals.
