[ANGUILLA] – Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE), the island’s annual destination-wide epicurean festival, is thrilled to announce this year’s featured talent including Anguilla-born Chef Kerth Gumbs, Chicago-based Chefs Douglas Psaltis and Hsing Chen, Saint-Martin’s Chef Sébastien Barrière and wine expert Leigh Ann Reed of California’s Napa Valley. ACE 2025 returns for its fourth year from April 30th to May 4th, 2025, with a full menu of seaside parties, intimate dinners, hands-on demos, beach barbeques and lively competitions at the island’s luxury resorts, private villas, and award-winning restaurants. Janine Edwards of JanineConnects.com, and Trudy Nixon, of TRUE Anguilla Magazine and TV Show, are returning as festival co-hosts. Visit www.AnguillaCulinaryExperience.com to explore the 2025 lineup and purchase tickets.
During ACE’s five flavorful days, foodies from Anguilla and around the world share tables as local and international chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists share kitchens and showcase Anguilla’s fresh seafood and native ingredients. Most importantly, the festival helps fund culinary and hospitality training programs that empower the island’s next generation of rising stars. Young Anguillian chefs and students also have a chance to learn alongside the more experienced chefs.
ACE Platinum Partner Malliouhana kicks off ACE 2025 on April 30th at its opening night party, “Taste the Magic of Malliouhana.” The resort’s famed Culinary Dream Team, helmed by local hero, celebrity chef, and Culinary Director Kerth Gumbs – winner of BBC’s Great British Menu and a judge on MasterChef Junior – fuses modern style with the renowned cuisine of Anguilla’s original luxury resort. Inspired by the flavors of Malliouhana’s three signature restaurants, Celeste by Kerth Gumbs, Bar Soleil and Leon’s at Meads Bay, as well as Anguilla’s favorite barbeque hotspots and classic island favorites, “Taste the Magic of Malliouhana” offers an authentic taste of Anguilla. Travelers booking the resort’s ACE 2025 accommodations package receive two complimentary tickets to the opening night party.
Culinary Director Kerth Gumbs said, “Get ready to Taste the Magic! Anguilla is the culinary capital of the Caribbean, and Malliouhana’s Dream Team is creating a taste revolution. We can’t wait to kick off the 2025 Anguilla Culinary Experience with an unforgettable night that will leave you spellbound as we blend the incredible flavors of the island with modern flair and a dash of magic. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!”
On Thursday, May 1st, Guest Chef Sébastien Barrière of Les Galets Intimate Dining Experience, winner of Best Table de Saint-Martin 2024, will join forces with Chef Gerard MacDonna of top-rated Sharky’s Anguilla. The duo, and their co-hosts Altamer and Cape Air, will take guests on a “Flavors of Altamer” journey exploring the island’s indigenous ingredients. The evening starts with rooftop cocktails at Altamer’s Antilles Pearl Villa, then moves to the resort’s Blue Diamond Villa’s oceanfront terrace for dinner. That same night, Savi Beach Club on Meads Bay will pay tribute to Italy’s patron of revelry at its “Bacchus Feast, A Roman Celebration.” The gran festa includes culinary stations celebrating the essence of Italy and featuring Executive Chef Dario Schiavo’s homemade pasta and regional favorites, a live band, a dynamic floor show, and an after-party with DJ and dancing.
On Thursday and Friday, May 2, Guest Chef-Owners Doug Psaltis and Hsing Chen of Chicago’s Michelin-recognized Andros Taverna, neighborhood trattoria Mano a Mano, and Basque-inspired steakhouse Asador Bastian – one of the New York Times 25 Best Restaurants 2024 and #14 Best Steak Restaurant in the world – will merge their Mediterranean culinary storytelling with Veya Anguilla Chef-Owner Carrie Bogar’s cuisine of the sun at a six-hands tasting dinner paired with wines from Grands Vins de France Anguilla. ACE co-chairs Neil and Wendy Freeman and Trophy Properties Caribbean’s Steve and Debbie Haines are hosting the respective nights at the Freeman’s oceanfront Villa Alegria in Cul de Sac.
Also on Friday, Jacala Beach Restaurant’s Chef-Owner Alain Laurent will partner with Nathalie Le Sénéchal, manager of Grands Vins de France Anguilla, and Leigh Ann Reed, vice president of international sales for premier wine company Boisset Collection, to present an evening of “Napa Valley Wines and French Fare with Caribbean Flair” at his Meads Bay Beach restaurant. Fine wine selections from California’s Raymond Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards, and Elizabeth Spencer Winery will accompany each course.
Saturday, May 3rd, the NCBA & Cape Air “Beach BBQ + Basket & Bartending Battles” returns to Anguilla Great House & Beach Resort on Rendezvous Bay Beach. The grills will be hot, and the drinks cold as local chefs and restaurants serve up gourmet burgers, tangy chicken and ribs, tasty sides, and sweet treats, while the Anguilla National Culinary Team squares off in lively cooking and bartending mystery basket challenges. The top chef and bartender win a cash prize, bragging rights, and a career mentoring session with Malliouhana’s Culinary Director Kerth Gumbs, Executive Chef Wilson Macedo, Head Chef Kelston “Sweets” Connor, and award-winning mixologist Taffy Hodge-Roland.
During the day, guests can learn how to transform freshly-caught fish into SALT restaurant’s signature ceviche with Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla’s Executive Chef Manu Calderon, go on an around-the-island progressive lunch, cook Johnny Cakes in an outdoor oven, search for the beach bar with the best rum punch in a Moke driven by local guides from Quest Experiences, and explore Anguilla’s 35 square miles of natural beauty, 33 world-class beaches and 100 bespoke restaurants. Malliouhana will close out this year’s ACE with a special “Sunday Funday” beach party on May 4th at Leon’s at Meads Bay.
“Anguilla continues to shine as the Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination, and the Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE) is a true celebration of our island’s rich epicurean heritage. Now in its fourth year, ACE 2025 will once again bring together an extraordinary lineup of local and international culinary talent, showcasing Anguilla’s fresh seafood, native ingredients, and world-class hospitality. This festival not only elevates Anguilla’s global reputation as a must-visit gastronomic destination but also plays a vital role in fostering the next generation of culinary stars. We are thrilled to welcome food lovers from around the world to experience the magic of our cuisine, our culture, and our unparalleled island charm,” said Stacey Liburd, Director of Tourism, Anguilla Tourist Board.
Anguilla Culinary Experience 2025 is made possible by these lead sponsors and partners: Platinum Partner: Malliouhana Anguilla. Gold Partner: Grands Vins de France Anguilla. Silver Partners & Sponsors (alphabetically): Altamer Luxury Villas; Anguilla Great House & Beach Resort; Anguilla Tourist Board; Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel; Cape Air; Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla; JanineConnects.com; Savi Beach Club; Sunset Homes Anguilla; Tranquility Beach Anguilla; TRUE Anguilla Magazine & TV Show; Veya Restaurant Anguilla; and Villa Alegria Anguilla. Bronze Partners & Sponsors: Boisset Collection, Cabarita Agency, DeLoach Vineyards, Elizabeth Spencer Winery, Jacala Beach Restaurant, KidzKare, National Commercial Bank of Anguilla (NCBA), Quest Experiences, Raymond Vineyards, Richardson’s Car Rental Agency, Tasty’s POV, Trophy Properties Caribbean, and Tropical Shipping. Anguilla Culinary Experience Supports: Anguilla Community College, Albena Lake Comprehensive School, Anguilla National Culinary Team, and Future Hospitality & Tourism Leaders of Anguilla.
Contact anguillaculinaryexperience@gmail.com with questions or to become an ACE sponsor. Visit the ACE website at www.AnguillaCulinaryExperience.com to see event details, read bios, and buy tickets. Follow @anguillaculinaryexperience on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated.
