The BVI is fast gaining a reputation as a haven for food lovers looking for a holiday destination that allows them to indulge in the gastronomic delights of the islands' fresh produce, quality cuisine, fabulous restaurants and potent rum cocktails – and all of this is being celebrated this November with the launch of BVI Food Fete!

Running throughout the whole month and encompassing the Anegada Lobster Festival, Restaurant Week and Taste of the BVI, the first ever BVI Food Fete will see the islands' mouth-watering cuisine showcased, from delicious barbeques serving up BBQ chicken, lip-smackingly good ribs and Mahi Mahi to local dishes including Roti, peas soup and the famous Anegada lobster, reputed to be the best in the Caribbean! Visitors to the islands during November can expect to experience VIP dinners, live entertainment, free food samplings, wine tasting, demonstrations from guest chef Roshni Gurnani, cook-off competitions and special discounted rates at participating restaurants across the islands, all in celebration of the BVI's cuisine which fuses Caribbean flair and West Indian influences.

Running from 14th – 23rd November, BVI Restaurant Week sees a host of participating restaurants across the islands create special menus with an alluring twist. During the week breakfast menus will be available for $9 or less, lunch menus for $15 or less and dinner menus for $45 or less, each including a complimentary drink. During the week, two Taste of the BVI events will also take place, one on Tortola on 14th November and the other on Virgin Gorda on 15th November, where free samples of delicious food and drink will be served in a market style setting in addition to celebrity chef cook-offs and a celebrity chef dinner. 

Another highlight of the BVI Food Fete is the Anegada Lobster Festival, which will be held on the shores of Anegada on 29th and 30th November. Over the weekend an array of mouth watering lobster dishes will be prepared by award-winning local and international chefs, and served grilled, jerked, curried, ceviche, broiled, stewed and much more. In addition to fantastic lobster, visitors get the chance to experience the spectacular scenery of the island and party on the beaches with music, entertainment and, of course, more lobster.

Guest chef, Roshni Gurnani, who will be visiting the islands as part of the BVI Food Fete is an Executive Chef and Culinary Chef Instructor at The Art Institute of Houston, as well as a chef consultant and private chef. A highly innovative chef with over 15 years of industry experience, Roshni has a unique fusion style of cooking and blending together different cultures, and was described as a “passionate, well-rounded chef that blended flavours magically” by Michelin Star chef Gordon Ramsey when she appeared as a contestant on Hell's Kitchen in 2012.

For full details of the BVI Food Fete and a list of events taking place each day, please visit bvifoodfete.com.

If all of this has got your taste buds tingling, be sure to book a holiday to the British Virgin Islands this November now:

Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Caribtours (020 7751 0660: www.caribtours.co.uk) offers 7 nights from £1,495 per person, based on 2 adults sharing a Garden Suite including breakfast, return scheduled flights with British Airways, return internal flights with LIAT, transfers and lounge passes at London Gatwick.

Special offer included: Book by 31 October to stay between now - 19 December and receive 7 nights for the price of 5 plus a US$500 flight credit and complimentary transfers.

Sebastians on the Beach, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Coast to Coast Worldwide Travel (0843 289 3589: www.ctcwwt.co.uk) offers 7 nights from £1,012 per person, based on 2 adults sharing on a room only basis, including return scheduled flights with British Airways and internal flights with LIAT, departing Gatwick on 23rd November 2014.

Lighthouse Villas, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

BVI Holidays (01279 871188: www.bviholidays.com) offers 7 nights (departing November) from £1025.00 per person, based on 2 adults sharing a Palm Tree Suite on a self catering basis, including return scheduled flights with British Airways and internal flights with LIAT.  All other transfers are bookable locally.

Guavaberry Spring Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

BVI Holidays (01279 871188: www.bviholidays.com) offers 7 nights (departing November) from £1150.00 per person, based on 2 adults sharing a one bedroom apartment on a self catering basis, including return scheduled flights with British Airways and internal flights with LIAT. All other transfers are bookable locally.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Some of the events taking place during BVI Food Fete:

1st November – 6 course fine dining at Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort

2nd November – Caribbean Street BBQ at Scrub Island

3rd November – Game & Mushroom menu at Scrub Island

4th, 11th, 18th & 25th November – Tasting Tuesdays at Peter Island Resort

5th, 12th, 19th & 26th November – Caribbean Buffet at Peter Island Resort

6th, 13th & 20th November – Wine dinner at Peter Island Resort

7th, 14th, 21st & 28th November – Local Fridays

7th November - Callwood Distillery Open House, Happy Hour

8th November – Caribbean Cellars Block Party

14th – 23rd November – Restaurant Week

14th November – Taste of the BVI, Tortola

14th November – Celebrity Chef Coof-off, Tortola

15th November – On the Rocks Bar Crawl, Virgin Gorda

15th November – Celebrity Chef Cook-off, Virgin Gorda

15th November – Taste of the BVI, Virgin Gorda

20th November – Le Beauijolais at Scrub Island

27th November – Thanksgiving BVI style at Peter Island

27th November – Thanksgiving BVI style at Scrub Island

29th – 30th November – Anegada Lobster Festival

Further events may be added and some events may be subject to change.

The British Virgin Islands are made up of 60 islands, cays and islets located in the North Eastern Caribbean. Tortola is the largest island, and home of the BVI's capital Road Town. Anegada meaning “Drowned Land” is the second largest and is the only non-volcanic island. This tranquil island's highest point is just 28 feet above sea level.  Other islands include Virgin Gorda, home to The Baths and the third largest island in the chain. The rugged island of Jost Van Dyke is named after an early Dutch settler reputed to have been a pirate.

The British Virgin Islands can be reached via connecting flights through other Caribbean airports including Antigua, St Thomas, Puerto Rico, St Kitts or St Maarten. From the UK a number of airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, offer scheduled flights to Antigua with connecting flights to Tortola available with LIAT, VI Airlink or by private charter flight. Island hopping is made easy with frequent, speedy and efficient ferry services from Tortola to Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada and Peter Island. www.bvitourism.co.uk

New Airlink

VI Airlink is owned and operated in the BVI and provides exclusive private air charter for connection flights between Antigua and Beef Island, Tortola. The twice a week flights on Fridays and Saturdays, start from the 31st of October 2014 and connect with the arrival/departure of scheduled British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights between London Gatwick and Antigua. For further information visit www.viairlink.com

For further media information, please contact Eloise Evans or Leah Rosewell at ADPR +44 (0) 1460 241641 or email: eloise@adpr.co.uk or leah@adpr.co.uk