A showcase of rich culinary heritage and vibrant traditions, the 2024-2025 Crucian Christmas Festival Food Fair kicked off the new year with a mouthwatering bang on Wednesday morning into the afternoon.
The cruise ship Virgin Voyages was in port and welcomed passengers along with thousands of hungry locals, and more than 30 vendors served local food, drinks, treats, and other goods.
Buddhoe Park on St. Croix was a scene of music in the band stands, hungry people having their lunch, laughter, friendly banter and a sense of community. The Source caught up with Shamari Haynes, deputy commissioner at the Tourism Department, who said, “Food Fair is a big staple in the Christmas Festival. We have the village nights and the village vendors where you can get the chicken leg and johnny cake. In the Food Fair you have the opportunity to actually get a red pea soup, a kallaloo, a sugar cake and for me personally some of the vendors you see here at the Food Fair you don’t see at any other time of the year. So, if you don’t catch them now, you’ll have to wait till next year,” Haynes said.
First-time vendors at the Food Fair, Sweet Delights Delicious Treats, said they sold out of their pates within two hours of opening up sales. Senator-at-Large Angel L. Bolques Jr., who was on the hunt for some gooseberry tart, said that he was feeling for a plate of wilks or conch and rice. “That cultural meal with rice and beans with a salad and plantain, that’s what I’m looking for,” Bolques said.
Bolques also mentioned his bill 35-0078, which established the National Dish of the U.S. Virgin Islands. That dish is fish and fungi and the National dessert is tarts. “Culinary tradition does bring people together. Every time we have some sort of holiday or traditional cultural meeting, it always surrounds food in some shape or form. Food obviously brings us together no matter what nationality we are. It is something that helps us to celebrate who we are,” he said.
Also in attendance was Sen. Franklin Johnson, who said he was taking it light from his usual kallaloo and conch. He shared with us that he had just returned from “ringing the bell” on Monday at the Moffit Cancer Center in Florida from receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Ringing the bell is a tradition most cancer centers do to signify a patient is cancer-free. Johnson shared that he wanted to publicly share that information to encourage men to “do your test and do it early because we shouldn’t be losing this battle, especially with prostate cancer.” Something he said he is going to push more so that people hear it more and know more about it. “It’s just a simple blood test,” he said.
“It’s always a blessing to enjoy this time of year. This is St. Croix time,” said Johnson. He also said with laughter, “St. Croix has the top cooks. If you want to taste the best food come to St. Croix.”
Food vendor “Goodies,” who has participated in Food Fair for 14 years and used to function out of the Village and Agricultural Fair, was serving a plate of roast pork with all the trimmings for a patron. Coordinated in black and white, the spokesperson for the vendor said, “If the people look good and coordinated just like the food, then you know it’s good.” Patrons in line affirmed with a loud “Yes.”
This year’s honorees were Jewel Coconut Lady Hendrickson and Jan Mitchell. There were also performances by the Ten Sleepless Knights, quadrille dancers, and more.
“To be able to host the Food Fair in Frederiksted with a cruise ship in port to show our culture, cuisines, our music and being able to do all of this makes me feel good because it’s our way of keeping culture and tradition alive. It’s also our way to teach and introduce to people who do not know,” Haynes said.
