I recently had the pleasure of taking a Virgin Islands Food Tour led by Anquanette Gaspard. The tours are a newer option on St. Croix, which started last year. Gaspard is the company founder and a passionate advocate for St. Croix’s rich culture and culinary scene. Her unique background intertwines cuisine from the Caribbean and the states, giving her a true appreciation for island food.
The Taste of Twin City Food Tour showcases six restaurants in Christiansted. For me (having lived on-island since 2009), I was ashamed to say I had yet to set foot in four of them. Not for lack of curiosity, but most of these are quintessential hole-in-the-wall restaurants. The type of place you wouldn’t know what to order without a little hand-holding from someone who eats there regularly. Which is precisely what Anquanette is doing as a tour operator, marching visitors (and residents) into places they’ve never been or haven’t visited in many years. One bakery on the tour doesn’t even have signs … knowledge that it’s there is by word-of-mouth only.
Between tastings, Anquanette gives an engaging narrative of St. Croix’s history. Coming from someone who didn’t enjoy history classes, the way she delivers it in short snippets interspersed with questions, is ideal. The walking tour element made a winding loop around Christiansted, passing most of the historical sites including several churches and the fort.
All-in-all, I finished the tour feeling like I’d had a three-martini lunch. My restaurant list has expanded, now that I know the secret spots to park in town and their cuisine specialties. I was pleased to have learned (and tasted) a few new things from the island I’m so lucky to call home.
If a Virgin Islands Food Tour only leaves you wanting more, perhaps St. Croix is the place for you. Talk with Chris and Kerri Hanley about renting or buying island real estate. They have more than 50 years of combined local knowledge. Contact them today and download their free St. Croix Event Guide here: