Unique Food Events to Discover in 2016 Suggested by Restaurateur and Food Festival Founder Katherine Pugliese

MIAMI, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- From wine to chocolate and beer to wings, Katherine Pugliese, restaurateur and founder of A Taste of St. Croix, recommends a handful of culinary events to experience in 2016.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160321/346442
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160321/346441

9 Weeks of Beer: In Newport, Rhode Island, Hotel Viking's 9 Weeks of Beer continues through May 4 with innovative menus paired with craft beers from some of New England's top breweries. Beer dinners are $39 and held at Hotel Viking's newly renovated restaurant One Bellevue.

Flavor of Riviera Maya: The Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival kicks off April 27 with top chefs, oenologists and sommeliers on hand to lead an adventure in culinary discovery. The multi-day festival offers culinary experiences starting as low as $48. Located in the heart of Playa del Carman, Royal Hideaway Playacar is command central for foodies looking to explore this showcase of culinary talent. Rates start at $574 per night, double occupancy, all-inclusive when the Happy Weekends promotion is booked.   www.barcelo.com/PlayacarHideaway.

King of the Wing: Nest at Eden View Villa for a bit of tasteful tourism in the form of the King of the Wing festival. The annual event takes place on world famous Megan's Bay Beach, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, pitting teams against one another to earn the title 'King of the Wing.' More than 36 professional and amateur chefs will compete in the chicken wing cooking contest on June 4, 2016. Admission is free, and tasting tickets are $1 each. Funds raised support the Junior Achievement of the Virgin Islands, a non-profit organization that teaches students about financial literacy and workforce readiness.   

Sweet St. Lucia: Only the most informed chocolate connoisseurs recognize the Caribbean island of St. Lucia as one of the world's renowned chocolate producers. The island celebrates Chocolate Heritage month every October with special events throughout the month. At Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, guests can indulge in cocoa-inspired dishes as well as chocolate-infused spa treatments with their Sweet Days in Paradise package. The five-night package includes accommodations, a bottle of champagne, a chocolate scrub and manicure, all meals and beverages including the traditional Cocoa-Tea, plus a choice of more than 20 wines, round-trip airport car service and more for $3795. Contact romance@askmeaboutcalabashcove.com or 800.917.cove to book the package.

Taste of Collier: Located in the heart of Old Naples with easy access to all points beyond, Lemon Tree Inn is the ideal jumping-off point for Taste Of Collier, a longstanding family-centric Naples tradition showcasing competitions among local top chefs and tastings from more than 30 Collier County restaurants. General admission tickets are just $5 and guests pay for only the nibbles they want to sample. The 2016 Taste of Collier kicks off May 1 at The Shoppes at Vanderbilt. Rates at Lemon Tree Inn start at $94 and rooms can be booked at www.LemonTreeInn.com.

Taste of St. Croix: Katherine Pugliese founded A Taste of St. Croix in 2001 with friends Kelly Odom and Collin Hodge in order to celebrate the islands restaurant industry. This year's event, set for April 14, features more than 50 exhibitors including local restaurants, farms, rums, wines and more. Hotels all over the island offer packages. Hotel Caravelle's 'Caribbean Spice & Everything Nice' is  a five-night stay with tickets to A Taste of St. Croix. To book the package which is $995 double occupancy, visit www.HotelCaravelle.com or call the hotel at 340-773-0687.

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SOURCE A Taste of St. Croix