Guyana Restaurant Week, described as ‘a culinary celebration’, returns later this month with 18 restaurants already signed on to offer unique and delicious food experiences.
Celebrated in May of this year as part of Guyana’s 50th celebrations, the event returns from November 18 to 27. It will form the signature event for Tourism Awareness Month, according to Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority Indranauth Haralsingh, who spoke at the event’s launch, held at Cara Lodge on Thursday.
The restaurants promise to deliver a unique dining experience, with the chefs deviating from their typical menu to bring a spin on their signature dishes using local ingredients.
‘Explore, eat, repeat,’ the tagline states. “People in Guyana are travelling a lot more. They’re seeing a lot more stuff on Food Network and they’re willing to experiment a lot more with food. So we’re saying to local restaurants—use that opportunity to do that experimentation now. Promote what you do to the general public in Guyana and promote what you do well,” Shaun McGrath, Executive Member of Guyana Restaurant Week said at the launch. McGrath is also the Managing Director of Cara Lodge.
The 10-day event will feature large, medium and small-scale restaurants, with a special price offer of $2,000 for a two-course lunch and either $4,000 or $5,000 for a three course dinner. It was related that some restaurants would be offering both lunch and dinner specials, while others may offer lunch or dinner exclusively.
According to McGrath, the prices are reflective of an average of 30% off of the regular menu costs and are already VAT and service charge inclusive.
Guyana Restaurant Week was first introduced in November 2014, and after the popularity that followed last year’s event, it was decided that it would be held twice a year.
On board thus far to deliver the experience of fine dining to a wider audience of Guyanese are the Aagman Indian Restaurant, Antonio’s Grille, Cara Lodge, Grand Coastal Hotel, Guyana Marriott, Pegasus, Herdmanston Lodge, Java Coffee Bar and Bistro, Maharaja Palace, New Thriving, Publik, Oasis Cafe, Roraima Duke Lodge, Star Buds Cafe, Coffee Bean, Wind Jammer and Xie Xie. An eighteenth restaurant was confirmed before the end of the launch.
The event is being held in collaboration with Republic Bank Guyana Limited, which handed over $500,000 yesterday. Also supporting the venture is Demerara Distillers Limited, whose collaboration will allow restaurateurs to offer complimentary shots of rum or cream liqueur to patrons.
Patrons will also have the opportunity to partake in the event’s Instagram photo competition and Scavenger Hunt, where they can rack up points and be eligible to win exciting prizes, including a trip to New York. Details for the competition as well as any other information on the ten-day food experience can be accessed on the event’s Facebook page or on guyanarestaurantweek.com.
