With its panoramic views of the Piton Mountains, open-walled sanctuaries and soft sand beaches, Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet were designed, first and foremost, to appeal to all five senses. The annual Cooking in Paradise Festival pays homage to the sense of taste: During this five-day culinary exploration, guests are invited to cook, hike, harvest, shake cocktails, make personalized chocolate bars and taste (and taste and taste)—all while being pampered in an utterly unforgettable setting.
Along with Allen Susser, the resort’s James Beard award-winning chef, owners Karolin and Nick Troubetzkoy have handcrafted the itinerary to showcase the resort’s most intriguing ingredients and experiences.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the deliciousness that awaits:
Thursday, May 2
Discover Chocolate - Chocolate Lab
For this tantalizing interactive experience following the Chocolate Sensory Tasting, head to the Chocolate Lab to discover just how chocolate is made. The resorts are a Tree to Bar organic boutique chocolate producer using only Emerald Estate Organic Cocoa. Learn the basic techniques of making chocolate, tempering chocolate, creating your own fudge and making a personalized chocolate bar. The best part...you take home what you make! So, if you’ve ever pondered the alchemy involved in creating the finest of chocolates, enroll in this Discover Chocolate workshop and learn this delightful art for yourself. This class is hands on so be prepared to be covered with chocolate!
Friday, May 3
Morning tour of Emerald Estate Organic Farm and cooking class hosted by Chef Allen Susser
The Resorts organic farm Emerald Estate, located in the Soufriere hills, is an integral part of the culinary experience at Jade Mountain. The farm produces a wide variety of items including vanilla beans, bay leaf, nutmeg trees, cinnamon, and numerous varieties of mango, sour orange, coconuts, leaves, greens, vegetables and herbs all brought daily to the kitchens.
Saturday, May 4
A Spoonful of Paradise Dinner Celebration in the Jade Club
A specially prepared 5 course dinner spectacular prepared by Chef Allen, Executive Chef Juan and Chef de Cuisine Elijah. The inspiration comes from the naturally diverse shapes and colors of the ingredients. By using the finest ingredients, intense flavors, unpredictable combinations and challenging resources the resort is able to produce a statement of art on the table. The dinner can be accompanied by a pairing of carefully selected wines to match each course.
Sunday, May 5
Hand Crafted Paradise Cocktail Mixology at the Beach Bar
For those who enjoy Caribbean rum, explore the fine craft of mixing cocktails using the basic techniques and tricks from standout bartenders. Learn how to make Spiced Mojitos, Pina Coladas, and the most popular Coco Doo in this special Mixology Class. If you already have a favorite from the resorts cocktail list, they can even show you how it’s made!
Cooking in Paradise is a chance to explore St. Lucia’s varied cuisine, which encompasses traditional local dishes, modern interpretations by trendsetting chefs and beach bar favorites. Get ready to awaken your creative spirit and come home with recipes and tricks that bring a bit of Jade Mountain into your kitchen (talk about an incredible souvenir!).
