ST CROIX — Discover one of St. Croix’s best kept secrets at Slow Down Dinners held at Ridge to Reef Farm. These dinners feature various local and visiting chefs using organic fruits and vegetables and livestock.
Ridge to Reef Farm specializes in organic food for the people of the Virgin Islands. With 100% solar powered facilities and a gravity fed water system, they are the only lodging in the USVI that has been Green Globe and USDA Organic certified. The farm is completely “off the grid” because they pride themselves on the ability to live as a part of nature and “not apart from nature.” They even use sustainable materials like bamboo grown on the farm to build their structures. Their primary goals are to:
- Feed 1% of Virgin Islands population healthy, local, organic food.
- Share sustainable living & island heritage experiences to 4,000 local and off-island visitors annually.
- Inspire action for a healthier is-land and global community.
Located in the “rain forest” on the northwest corner of the island, Ridge to Reef Farm is nestled in the rugged, beautiful landscape on the island’s west side. The slow down dinners are held several times a year, featuring a farm tour before dinner begins that gives each guest insight on St. Croix’s native plants. The name of the dinner is a reminder that all good things take time. Imagine delectable courses that include roasted avocado deviled eggs with candied jalapeno, roast pork tacos with prickly pear cactus & star fruit and a chipotle chocolate torte with homemade lime ice cream. Over five to six courses, guests get to experience the best of St. Croix’s agriculture coupled with the ingenuity of the featured chefs. Dinners are BYOB and guests are encouraged to bring wine, beer, cock-tails and other beverages to share amongst their party as well as other slow down dinner guests. Through-out dinner, enjoy live music, presentations and stories from some of the farm employees or other visitors. The night ends with a fire ball lighting and sometimes features fire dancers and other performers.
All proceeds from the dinner raise money for the Farm to School pro-gram that provides local fruits and veggies to various public schools on the island. To learn about the dinners, head to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/R2RFarmVI and visit their website at www.ridg-e2reef.org to sign up for their email list to be the first to learn when the dinners become available.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
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