Celebrity Chefs from Across the USA Support
Annual St. Croix Food & Wine Experience April 17-22, 2012

 
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – August 2011 – A line-up of fantastic and fun celebrity chefs has been announced for the annual St. Croix Food & Wine Experience taking place April 17-22, 2012 on the sun-soaked island of St. Croix. Guest chefs include Govind Armstrong, Graham Elliot, Howie Kleinberg, Orlando Santos, Ana Sortun, Roberto Trevino, Sue Zemanick and Top Chef Just Desserts judge Dannielle Kyrillos. They will be participating in events including wine dinners, cooking classes, and competitions.

The weeklong fundraising fete includes gourmet dinners, an island-wide culinary competition with wine tastings from celebrated vintners, wine seminars and more. Below is information on the participating chefs.

Govind Armstrong (Los Angeles) – Govind Armstrong made his mark with his Table 8 and 8oz Burger Bar restaurants in Los Angeles and Miami. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, O Magazine, and People’s 50 Most Beautiful People issue. He authored “Small Bites, Big Nights: Seductive Little Plates for Intimate Occasions and Lavish Parties,” is a consultant chef to Air New Zealand, on Macy’s culinary council, and a guest chef for cruise lines. He is expanding 8oz Burger nationwide and developing Post & Beam in Los Angeles.

Graham Elliot (Chicago) – In addition to appearing on Iron Chef America, Chef Graham Elliot has been on both seasons of Top Chef Masters, and has co-starred as a judge in the FOX series MASTERCHEF. Named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs (2004), Chef Elliot became the nation’s youngest four-star chef with perfect reviews from Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, as well as three James Beard award nominations. Elliot began his culinary education at Johnson & Wales University and has worked alongside Chefs Rick Tramonto and Charlie Trotter. He is the chef and owner of Graham Elliot restaurant and Grahamwich, a sandwich shop, both in Chicago. www.grahamelliot.com

Howie Kleinberg (Miami) – Known for his star turn on Bravo’s Miami season of Top Chef, Howie Kleinberg is the owner and chef of Bulldog Barbecue and Bulldog Burger in North Miami. Kleinberg began working in the kitchen at a young age, nurturing a love of cooking that grew out of a childhood immersed in his family’s high-end catering business. His culinary education started at Johnson & Wales University and he has worked with award-winning chefs such as Mark Militello at Mark’s South Beach, Tim Andriola at Timo, E. Michael Reidt at Wish and Michael Bloise at Tantra, and as part of the The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne’s opening team. Kleinberg has participated in the annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival since 2007. www.bulldog-bbq.com

Orlando Santos (Pittsburgh) - Born on St. Croix and a graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, Orlando trained in the classical and contemporary art of pastries and artisanal chocolates at Johnson & Wales. He is on the upcoming season of Top Chef Just Desserts and was on Food Network Challenge: Sugar Destinations. He is on the USVI team that will compete in the Culinary Olympics in Germany in 2012. He is the owner and Pastry Chef of Orlando’s Chocolate Treasures in Pittsburgh, PA, where he lives.

Ana Sortun (Boston) – James Beard winner and owner of Oleana in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ana Sortun has been called one of the country’s “best creative fusion practitioners.” Sortun’s cookbook, SPICE; Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean, was nominated for Best Cookbook by the James Beard Foundation and is a best seller according to the Boston Globe and LA Times. Ana competed on Top Chef Masters. www.oleanarestaurant.com

Roberto Treviño (Puerto Rico) – Roberto Treviño has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, Bon Appétit and top culinary TV shows. He battled Mario Batali on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, has prepared a dinner at the James Beard House and is the chef/owner of the fabulous Budatai restaurant, El Barril, Bar Gitano, and, newly opened in 2011, Casa Lola, all located in Puerto Rico. www.casalolarestaurant.com

Sue Zemanick (New Orleans) – Sue Zemanick’s accolades started at a young age. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 2001. After working in Oceana in New York, Zemanick moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2003. She began working at the city’s famed Commander’s Palace before moving to Gautreau’s in 2004, where she was named executive chef in 2005. In 2008 she was selected as a Food & Wine “Top 10 Best New Chefs,” and named “Chef of the Year” by New Orleans Magazine and one of “5 Chefs to Watch” by Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine. She was a Finalist for James Beard’s “Rising Star Chef” Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Zemanick competed on Season 3 (2011) of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. www.gautreausrestaurant.com


Tickets to the events can be purchased before March 2012 by purchasing a Patron Package which starts at $2500 and includes two tickets to four events. Individual tickets will be available for purchase in March 2012. Funds raised from the events support local educational, restoration and community programs.

About the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience
The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience showcases the diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The multi-day event includes gourmet dinners, wine seminars, wine auctions, and the annual culinary competition, A Taste of St. Croix. The culinary event series is the major fundraiser of the year for the St. Croix Foundation. The fundraiser also supports direct efforts to increase St. Croix tourism, culinary education and scholarship support. The event was started in 2001 by restaurant owners Katherine Pugliese of Eat@CaneBay, and Kelly Odom of Tutto Bene, and is recognized as the pre-eminent food and wine event in the Caribbean. For more information visit www.stcroixfoodandwine.com.

About The St. Croix Foundation
Proceeds from The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience are donated to The St. Croix Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on community revitalization, economic development, youth programs, education and additional needs in the community. For more information visit www.stxfoundation.org.