October 16th is celebrated as World Food Day around the globe every year.
This year, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) celebrated the occasion with an international food fair in Dennery.
With the day falling within October, which is Mwa Ewitaj Kwéyòl (Creole Heritage Month), the event had a little Creole twist added to it.
Booths were set up featuring a variety of Creole foods, including lambi (conch), octopus, grilled lobster, fish cakes, dasheen, yam, and the classic Saint Lucian macaroni pie.
MOA officials said they invited the local schools to the event.
Macrina Fanus, Food and Nutrition teacher at the Micoud Secondary School, shared that she and her students decided to go with a pumpkin theme for this year’s fair.
Their best-seller was Pumpkin Punch, made with spices, pumpkin, and milk. When St. Lucia Times spoke to her by 3 p.m., they only had two drinks left!
In addition to Creole cuisine, the fair offered a wide range of international dishes, putting the “world” in “World Food Day.” There were Guyanese, Indian, and English foods on sale. Popular items included doubles, pepper pot, and buss up shot, which were crowd favorites.
Not only was there an abundance of food and drinks, but the event also featured lively music from Creole bands like Woolay Taytay, More Fire, Invader, Cooyah, Blackboy, Hollywood HP, and others.
Saint Lucians, dressed in Creole outfits—some specially made just for the occasion—flocked to the event grounds.
There was even a children’s play area with a bouncy castle, making it a fun-filled day for the entire family!
Overall, it was a great day of delicious food, refreshing drinks, and fantastic music. Attendees deemed it a “great way” to kick off the Creole activities.
The créole culture has die but the name still remains !