SLYOU Magazine issue 4 | Page 18

Windjammer Landing Introduces Guest Chef Culinary Experience By Stan Bishop - SLYOU Magazine Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort has found a new and more exciting way to entice its guests’ taste buds. For once every two months, the popular resort in the north of Saint Lucia will feature an international chef for a week of culinary cocktails, lunches and dinners as part of its Guest Chef Culinary Experience series. Chef John Horne The first of this new and appetizing addition to the resort’s menu was held in January, featuring Chef John Horne, who works for Oliver & Bonacini, a Canadian hospitality and entertainment company. He’s best known for being the Head Chef at Canoe Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Toronto. In fact, as Executive Chef for Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants, Chef Horne oversees seven restaurants, the biggest being Auberge du Pommier and the award-winning Canoe Restaurant. Held from January 20 to 24, the full plate of gastronomic activities at Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort focused on pairing fine wines handpicked by Sommelier Jeremy Bonia with Saint Lucia’s freshest local foods. The culinary programming schedule included a Complimentary Champagne Cocktail Hour on Wednesday, January 20; a Locally-sourced Plated Foods Lunch Event on Tuesday, January 21; a Beach BBQ Fiesta on Wednesday, January 22; and a Culinary Celebration Dinner featuring a one-of-a-kind five-course 16 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business “My visit is not to only expose guests to Canadian cuisine, but to also show off the great ingredients available in Saint Lucia.” - Chef Horne degustation menu created by Chef John Horne. “My visit to Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is not to only expose their guests to Canadian cuisine, but to also show off the great ingredients available in Saint Lucia,” Chef Horne told SLYOU Magazine at the beginning of his week-long stay at the popular resort. Admitting that many of the local ingredients were new to him, he noted that his biggest expectation for the culinary showcase was to find some really great ingredients and work with the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort staff. “Not only are they going to learn from me, but I also get to learn from them. It’s all part of being a chef – growing through new experiences,” Chef Horne, who was www.slyoumag.com | February - April 2020