The Tribune

Bahamian food and drink proved extremely popular at the recent Taste of The Islands Experience in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with long lines attracted to this nation’s booth.

The Bahamas’ popular drink at the event, “The Tallest Mango Tree,” featured the Kalik Radler Mango refreshment, a version of a very popular Bahamian beer. Also offered was a non-alcoholic beverage, “The Sweetest Mango Tree”.

Mixologist Marv Cunningham, also known as, “Mr Mix”, delighted the crowd by preparing one of his drinks on the demonstration stage. The drink concocted, a “Smoked Tamarind Chocolate Vodka Sour”, was a big hit. It used tamarind syrup, made from the tamarind fruit that is found on many Caribbean Islands.

The award-winning mixologist, who works for Atlantis in its Aura nightclub, and whose drinks have been described as “stratospheric”, was sponsored by the ministry of tourism and aviation to represent The Bahamas at the event.

Mr Cunningham’s many achievements include being the gold medallist at The Taste of the Caribbean competition for two years in a row, 2015 and 2016. He was the Stolichnaya Regional Mix Master Champion for 2014 and 2015, and again in 2017. In 2015 he was named the Caribbean Journal’s Travel Awards Bartender of the Year.

The Fort Lauderdale event was the third annual all-inclusive Caribbean culinary show to be put on in Florida by the organisation, Island Syndicate.

Besides food and drink tastings at the booths sponsored by various Caribbean Islands, the event also featured a shopping village, massage studios, live bands and cultural performers.

The Bahamas Tourist Office’s Florida sales team shared information on the country with event attendees. They also conducted sign-ups for one entrant to win a trip to The Bahamas.