By Land or by Sea

Unwrap the flavor of the British Virgin Islands, bite by bite.

- By Kristy Alpert

It isn’t the stars or even the winds that direct boats toward their destinations as the months ease into autumn in the British Virgin Islands; instead, captains, crew and passengers all sail with noses high in the air, ready to drop anchor when hunger strikes.

Sailing by scent is far superior to any map or GPS while in the British Virgin Islands during November, as the annual Food Fête ignites the islands with the enticing aromas of culinary celebrations and gastronomic gatherings. Visitors arrive barefoot on Norman Island to dine and dance in the warm sands during the Barefoot Gourmet Soirée before embarking on a crustacean-centric excursion toward Anegada for the annual Anegada Lobster Festival. The entire month is dedicated to the foods and personalities that bring flavor to the British Virgin Islands — when tourists and locals dine together beneath the sun or sip icy cocktails around beachside bonfires to savor the best of the BVI. However, the islands act as a proverbial feast throughout the entire year for professionals looking to serve up business with a side of pleasure with their accompanying friends and family.