The Caribbean’s hottest new culinary event kicked off this week in Antigua and Barbuda, with the debut of the destination’s new Restaurant Week. 

The event, which actually runs from May 7 to 21, showcases the best of the twin-island hotspot’s culinary excellence, from popular local spots to three-course menus at some of the country’s best fine-dining eateries. 

Local chefs will be cooking alongside a group of celebrity chefs for an exciting destination-wide festival. 

That includes visits by celebrity chefs including US-based Chef Tanya Holland, Jamaican-American Chef DeVonn Francis and Antiguan-born Chef Claude Lewis. 

Holland is the executive chef/owner of the renowned Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, Calif. She was also a fan favorite on the 15th season of Top Chef, and hosts the Food Network’s Melting Pot, along with her show, Tanya’s Kitchen Table on the OWN network. 

Francis is the founder of creative studio Yardy, with affiliations with Bon Appetite and HBO’s Selena + Chef. He’s created meals in partnership with brands like Gucci. Converse and Burberry and has been featured in a range of top publications. 

Lewis, whose mission is to bring West Indian cuisine “to the forefront” in the United States, won the title of Chopped Champion on Food Network’s show Chopped. He owns the restaurant Freetown Road Project, named after the village of Freetown in Antigua. 

Holland will be hosting a culinary experience at the new Wild Tamarind restaurant this week, while the chefs will be touring the country with guides, tasting local cuisine and produce and learning more about the history of gastronomy in the country. 

The event has a full schedule, with prix fixe menus at more than 30 participating restaurants, along with an “Eat Like a Local” interactive map.

Restaurant Week has launched a limited-edition Food Passport that encourages diners to eat at as many participating restaurants as possible to win rewards. 

“We are thrilled to welcome such an incredible roster of international and local chefs to help support the launch of our new flagship Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week. Not only will it help us raise visibility for our gastronomy in the region and around the globe, but it is going to play an important part in helping us foster our on-island culinary talent,” said Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, Charles Fernandez. “We can’t wait to taste the culinary wonders these chefs will be preparing to highlight the local wonders of Antigua and Barbuda. We’re sure our guests’ eyes and tastebuds will be delighted.”

For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week.