Local Bahamian Chef Emmanuel Smith and Icelandic Chef Anita Ingolfsdottir will meet in Grand Bahama on October 13th, for a throw down in the kitchen unlike anything we’ve ever seen, or in this case, tasted.
For many of us, we don’t have a clue about Icelandic cuisine; and that’s ok according to Chef Anita Ingolfsdottir who’s used to travelling across North America spreading her passion for Culinary Arts from her native country. Iceland is also an island nation, about the same population as The Bahamas, which sits roughly in the middle of the North American and European continents; Iceland is historically and traditionally European.
Chef Anita Ingolfsdottir
Currently living in the Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, Chef Anita spent time in both New York and Chicago last year cooking at some well-known restaurants such as BOKA, Grace, GT fish and oyster, Sepia, Spiaggia, Yusho, Acme and others. She recently graduated with her Master’s Degree in Culinary Arts and said she’s looking forward to the experience to further develop her skills. “So excited about the opportunity and a change to grow even more in my profession, fine tuning my skills to present to a Bahamian audience.”
This culinary affair mixes two different worlds, one in which Chef Emmanuel is very familiar as he worked in France, USA and also in Iceland. “The first time I went to Iceland I actually worked as a chef in a restaurant there…but their cuisine is somewhat more upscale because it’s actually in Europe.”
Chef Emmanuel has also cooked Bahamian cuisine with his former mentor and boss at the Ferry House, Chef Volundur S. Volundarson (Worly), also from Iceland, at their sold out event in Iceland. “I prepared Coconut Curry Seafood Soup, Lobster Fritters and Blackened Cod,” he noted. “I got a lot of good reviews for it, because it was new and different that a Bahamian actually traveled to Iceland.”
So what exactly is this Culinary Affair? Both Chefs say they hope to expose their guests to their respective kitchen mastery. Using local ingredients, The Bahamas, known for its seafood and Iceland, for its lamb, to create tastes and dishes that their guests won’t soon forget.
Chef Emmanuel Smith
Local foodies are welcomed to enjoy this throw-down, as well as wine connoisseurs as the six course meal will also have wine pairings. “We are finalizing the menu now,” said Chef Emmanuel, “I’m excited to see how we are going to play off each other and maybe try to one up each other too!”
A Culinary Affair To Remember all goes down on Thursday October 13th in the Canal House at Pelican Bay Hotel starting 7pm in Grand Bahama. Tickets are on sale now for one hundred and thirty-five dollars and are available at the front desk of the hotel or at Chef Emmanuel’s restaurant Sabor.
By Sarah Kirkby
Source: Barefoot Marketing
