The fall edition of the 2018 City Food Festival will take place from October 17 - 20.

The four days will encompass head-to-head competitions featuring local chefs as well as bartenders.

October 17th and 18th will feature Rounds One and Two, the preliminary rounds, of the Chef’s Table Competition. October 17th will see the first set of chefs battle it out over Appetizers. On October 18th, the second tier of chefs takes on an entrée dish. All chefs must incorporate the five ingredients provided but are not limited to them. Each round will be a demonstration event in front of a live audience with a panel of judges sampling the final dishes and sending the winner through to the Round Three final event. The Festival has partnered with Goslings who will provide a welcome cocktail as well as complimentary red and white wines for Rounds One and Two. Tickets for Rounds One and Two are $60.00.

On October 19th, it’s the bartenders of Bermuda who take a turn for top bragging rights in the Bacardi Cocktail Competition. Up to eight bartenders will compete against each other, again, in front of a live crowd and will be judged by a panel of industry professionals based on the creativity, taste, use of sponsor brands, visual appeal, use of ingredients, amongst other criteria.

The successful bartender that takes home top honours will receive the Grand Prize trip to the Bacardi Factory in Puerto Rico courtesy of Bacardi as well as a cash prize from the City of Hamilton.

The Bacardi Cocktail Competition is an ‘invitation only’ event.

Round Three, the final of the Chef’s Table Competition, will take place on October 20th. The two winning chefs from the preliminary rounds will face off with a dessert challenge in front of a live audience of ticket holders who will be treated to a sumptuous Rum Dinner, presented by Fourways Catering and Bacardi Rum. Together they have created a fun evening featuring an exclusive menu paired with Bacardi rums. Some rums are mixed into cocktails, some are cooked into the dishes and others are served neat. The night will start with a welcome cocktail followed by a delicious 4-course meal. Guests will learn about rum and how it is made while sipping cocktails and enjoying dishes presented by Fourways. Once the entrées have been served the Chef Competition

Final, featuring desserts, will commence. Both finalists will be tasked to create samples of their hopeful winning dishes for the patrons which will be the final course for the guests. Ticket price for the Chef’s Table Final Round inclusive of dinner and drinks is $149.00.

The winner of the Chef’s Table Competition will enjoy a trip to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami.

All Chef’s Table Competition rounds will take place in the lower level of Pier 6. Tickets are available for the Chef’s Table Competition on www.ptix.bm.

For additional information, visit the City’s website at www.cityofhamilton.bm.

• Press release from the City of Hamilton