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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Grand Bahama
FREEPORT, Bahamas – Attention all connoisseurs, its that time of the year again when the highly anticipated Culinary Fusion Expo takes centre stage for one classy evening of appetizing cuisine and enchanting cocktails. Meeting of Minds: Culinary Fusion Expo 2016 is set for November 5, 2016 at 4:00 pm at the Pelican Bay Hotel and organizers are pulling out all of the stops to make this fourth annual event an even more memorable one. This year, MOVE Marketing has partnered with Immerse Bahamas, BTC, the Ministry of Tourism, Pelican Bay, Petro Express, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and The Bahamas Weekly to stage the finest food and beverage expo ever on Grand Bahama Island. Immerse Bahamas Project Manager Karen Ferguson-Bain spoke of the diversity of the Culinary Fusion experience each year that brings together chefs, cooks, mixologists, breweries, bakeries, restaurants and hotels. “It is our desire to wow you with impeccable savor from renowned restaurants on Grand Bahama. We truly appreciate the support that we received last year, with over 800 attendees and 40 excited vendors who dazzled guests with savory dishes, delectable desserts and sexy cocktails,” said Ferguson. “Attendees this year will experience the best dining Grand Bahama Island has to offer – all in one night. Equally important is the wonderful opportunity restaurants, cafes, bistros, bakeries, hoteliers and cocktail lounge owners have to showcase their specialty items to patrons, who may not be aware of the variety of offerings on the island.” As a result of the overwhelming response from previous years, Culinary Fusion Expo Vice President Jillian Lightbourne is appealing to vendors to register early this time around. The deadline for the event is September 19, 2016. Organizers are introducing a new component this year in the form of a student competition and are extending an invitation to the Culinary Department in the various high schools on island and throughout the country to participate. “What we’re planning on is having a competition for the Culinary Departments of all of the local high schools and the winner from each school will be a participant of Culinary Fusion. We will also announce the overall winner at the main event,” Lightbourne said. LaShawn Dames, Grand Bahama Port Authority Business Services Manager, said that for Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau partnering with MOVE Marketing was a no brainer since the impetus behind Culinary Fusion fuels entrepreneurship in the food and beverage field. “We’re excited that it is a great opportunity for small businesses in the F&B field to get that added exposure, whether that is locally or nationally,” Dames said. Having reaped positive reviews from previous Culinary Fusion expos, Ministry of Tourism Communications representative Brooke Grant noted that the ministry is pleased that the specialty event has driven the culinary tourism dollars to the destination and is looking forward to hosting visiting journalists from North America, Canada and even as far as Europe this year. The amount of attention the articles published by local and international journalists have already drawn to the island, coupled with the exposure mileage the event derives from the Ministry’s half a million-plus followers via its social media pages, Travel Bahamas and Tourism Today Bahamas, Grant said the addition of celebrity personality Tipsy Bartender and the local show, A Mouth Full, this year gives it an added dimension. Tickets for Culinary Fusion 2016 go on saleat a cost of $60on October 1. Box offices are Gizmos and Gadgets, The Seventeen Shop and Pelican Bay Hotel.
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