A live performance by iconic 17-time Grammy winning musician Sting is expected to open next month’s Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival presented by Baha Mar.
Galvanizing this year with even more spectacular experiences and innovative programming – welcoming an all-star roster of tastemakers – the festival is filled with interactive celebrity chef demos, intimate and unique master classes, live performances, and the introduction of FUZE, a first of its kind art showcase.
Hosted by chef Marcus Samuelsson of Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, Kentaro Uechi of Katsuya, Dario Cecchini of Carna, alongside John Cox, executive director of art and culture at Baha Mar, the October 27-29 Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival is a can’t-miss extravaganza.
Special guest celebrity chefs and talent appearances include Amanda Freitag, Carla Hall, Geoffrey Zakarian, Scott Conant, Michelle Bernstein, Eitan Eats and Simeon Hall Jr., as well as the team behind the award-winning bar, Broken Shaker, and spirits expert, Noah Rothbaum.
Exciting new festival programming includes intimate chef experiences, such as The Art of Sushi Making with Kentaro Uechi, Coconuts & Cocktails with Marcus Samuelsson and Scott Conant, and A Taste of the Islands with Simeon Hall Jr.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to sharpen their culinary skills with leading chefs during special master class sessions, including a butchery master class with Dario Cecchini, biscuits for breakfast with Carla Hall, and a master class with Amanda Freitag in The Kitchen.
Baha Mar will also feature incredible bespoke spirits and wine tastings and cocktail seminars from industry leaders Rothbaum, Ken Fredrickson, Fernando Betata, Chris Farnum, and Ted Diamantis.
The festival officially kicks off with the toes in the sand Welcome Beach Party Powered by SLS Baha Mar, an incredible all-inclusive evening with live action chef stations and inventive cocktails, before dancing the night away to the performance by Sting. Taking place at the award-winning Baha Bay Waterpark, the party will feature the special performance by the iconic English musician who was born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, who following his tenure as bassist and vocalist with the Police, launched his solo career in 1985 with the album “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” which included the top 30 single “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free.” Sting had multiplatinum success with his next solo album, “Nothing Like The Sun” which spawned the top 10 hit “We’ll Be Together.”
Sting earned his first career Grammy for 1980 as a member of the Police for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for their “Regatta De Blanc.” As a solo artist, Sting earned his first Grammy for 1986 for Best Music Video, Long Form for “Bring On The Night”.
As a member of the Police, Sting has two recordings in the Grammy Hall Of Fame: the single “Roxanne” and the album “Synchronicity”.
In addition to the spectacular entertainment, SLS Baha Mar will invite guests to indulge in a decadent night of culinary experiences with dishes from fan favorites such as Katsuya, Cleo, Carna, Fi’Lia, Broken Shaker and many more.
The party doesn’t stop there – concert goers will be invited to continue at the rooftop bar, Skybar and weekend pass holders will be welcomed by Samuelsson who will close out the first night with the exclusive Marcus After Dark, a late-night event at Marcus Gardens featuring an exclusive concert after party to celebrate The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for weekend pass holders, with tropical beverages and bites.
Also new to this year’s programming lineup is FUZE, a first of its kind art showcase, where art lovers can explore the rich culture that the Caribbean visual art communities have to offer through exciting programming including panel discussions, guided tours, live printmaking demonstrations, and a film series. Facilitated by The Current Gallery & Art Center at Baha Mar. On Saturday and Sunday, guests can partake in live entertainment, Bahamian hospitality with onstage chef demos, food and wine tastings led by top industry sommeliers, art demonstrations guided by artists from seven different Caribbean nations, and more.
FUZE will incorporate regional artists, galleries and more into the overarching festival’s multi-day programming in order to highlight Caribbean art and connect new audiences attending the festival with Bahamian contemporary art and artists. Highlights of FUZE include intimate art tours with John Cox, botanical leaf and figure drawing workshops and interactive, live artist demonstrations.
Saturday will conclude with a series of signature chef dinners hosted by the festival’s headlining and guest chefs, as each duo takes guests on a culinary journey with specially curated menus. Tickets to each signature chef dinner start at $300 per person on a first-come, first-served availability. The festival weekend will conclude with an authentic Bahamian music showcase concert.
Tickets are on sale at bahamar.com/bahamas-culinary-arts-festival/ and are priced by experience, ranging from $35 to $1,000 per person, per event. Guests can enjoy The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar in spectacular fashion with the all-inclusive Festival Weekend Pass priced at $799 which includes a premium welcome gift upon check-in, entry to the Welcome Beach Party Powered by SLS Baha Mar and Marcus After Dark, a signature chef dinner, unlimited access to The Bahamas Culinary Expo Tent and FUZE Arts Expo Venue.
Calendar of events
Friday, October 27
5 –7 pm: Rum Tasting Happy Hour with Noah Rothbaum at T2
7-9 pm: Bahamian Film Series at ECCHO Art Gallery
7 – 11 pm: Welcome Beach Party featuring Sting Powered by SLS Baha Mar at Baha Bay Lagoon
10 pm: Marcus After Dark at Marcus Gardens
Saturday, October 28
10 am – 6 pm: Culinary & FUZE Art Expo
10 – 11 am: Artist Talk at FUZE Art Expo
12 – 2 pm: Master Class with Amanda Freitag at The Kitchen
12 – 2 pm: Lunch with Michelle Bernstein at Costa
12 – 2 pm: The Art of Sushi Making with Kentaro Uechi at Katsuya
2:30 – 5:30 pm: Art Tour of The Current & ECCHO with John Cox & Botanical Leaf Workshop at ECCHO Art Gallery
2 – 3 pm: Chef Demo by Carla Hall at the Culinary Expo
2 – 4 pm: A Taste of the Islands with Simeon Hall Jr. at NEXUS Club
2 – 4 pm: Butchery Master Class with Dario Cecchini at Carna
1 – 3 pm: Marcus Samuelsson and Scott Conant’s Coconuts & Cocktails at Marcus Gardens
4 – 5 pm: Chef Demo by Geoffrey Zakarian at the Culinary Expo
7 pm: Signature Chef Dinner with Amanda Freitag & Dario Cecchini at Carna
7 pm: Signature Chef Dinner with Marcus Samuelsson & Carla Hall at Marcus Up Top
7 pm: Signature Chef Dinner with Scott Conant & Michelle Bernstein at Fi’lia
7 pm: Signature Chef Dinner with Kentaro Uechi at Katsuya
11pm – Afterparty at BOND Nightclub
Sunday, October 29
10 am – 6 pm: Culinary & FUZE Art Expo
10 – 11 am: Artist Talk at FUZE Art Expo
11- 12 pm: Chef Demo by Michelle Bernstein at the Culinary EXPO
12 pm – 1 pm: Biscuits for Breakfast Master Class with Carla Hall at The Kitchen
12 pm – 1 pm: Chef Demo by Amanda Freitag at the Culinary Expo
1 – 2 pm: Master Class with Geoffrey Zakarian at The Kitchen
2 – 3 pm: Chef Demo by Simeon Hall Jr. at the Culinary Expo
3 – 5 pm: Figure Drawing Workshop at ECCHO Art Gallery
4 – 5 pm: Wine Tasting with Chris Farnum at Culinary Expo
4 – 5 pm: Chef Demo by Scott Conant at the Culinary Expo
