Holidays on St Croix

12 Days of Christmas Island

November 29, 2018 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

YIPPEEEE I just LOVE sharing the best of St Croix with all of you and boy do I have something for you this Holiday Season!!!!!

Announcing the 12 Days of Christmas Island!

Starting Nov 30 I’ll be sending out an email every day for 12 days to ONLY THOSE WHO SIGN UP! Each day will feature a different St Croix vendor and gift items with EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS only for you!

I’m talking everything from DEEP discounts on My-StCroix.com gear to locally hand-crafted jewelry to fashions to Vacation Stays!!!

These aren’t paid advertisers. These are personally selected gifts that I want to share with you, many of which my friends and family are going to find under the tree.

So don’t wait another minute SIGN UP NOW >> https://bit.ly/12daysXmasIsland

Luck of the Irie: St Croix’s Irish Connection

March 17, 2016 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 3 Comments

Each year on the Saturday closest to St Patrick’s Day, Christiansted goes green as revelers flood the streets clad in t-shirts and costumes while cheering on the Annual St Croix St Patrick’s Parade. With the Irish diaspora representing over 100 million people, the raucous holiday is celebrated more outside of Ireland than within. And here on St Croix, it’s done with true Crucian gusto, though many don’t realize the strong Irish heritage that St Croix has.

Planning to attend? Visit the St Croix Calendar for parade dates.

The St Croix St Patrick’s Day Parade got it’s official start in 1969 when a group of local businessmen got together on March 17th and started to talk about local celebrations. They wondered why an island that celebrates with any excuse, didn’t have an official St Paddy’s celebration. So, they took matters into their own hands, got a flatbed and a piano, and drove through the streets of Christiansted singing Irish and local songs. Today, that tradition has grown into the annual parade and after-party featuring bands on floating stages and throughout the town. During the parade, local majorette troupes, high school bands and carnival troupes tramp through the streets celebrating their Irish Caribbean Heritage on an island full of Armstrongs, O’Bryans, O’Neales, O’Reillys, and more.

St Croix is proud of its diverse heritage that comes as a result of having flown the 7 flags of 6 different nations and the Knights of Malta since Columbus first landed in 1493. Though the Irish flag was not one of those, the island’s strong Irish connection is clear. It began alongside the Caribbean’s dark past and history with the rise of the sugar trade in the 1700s. Along with other European nations in the eighteenth century, Ireland’s wealthy merchants got even wealthier with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. While not as successful in colonizing as the English, French, Spanish, and Dutch, they were the vast majority on the island of Montserrat with a strong presence on neighboring Antigua and Nevis that began in the 1600s. There, merchants established plantations worked by both African slave labor and indentured farmers from Ireland.

www.mystcroix.vi — St Croix’s importance to the sugar trade can be seen by the many Sugar Mills that dot her landscape to this day.

In 1733, the Danish West India Company purchased the island of St Croix and began to develop their colony. The Danes had the money and mercantile expertise but lacked the experience and manpower needed to develop sugar plantations on the fertile island. So, they recruited Irish Montserratians and laborers directly from Ireland to move to the new Danish colony on St Croix. One of those Irish Montserratians was Nicholas Tuite who eventually owned 7 Crucian plantations and was part owner of 7 more. At the height of the sugar craze in the West Indies, St Croix was dotted with over 150 Sugar Plantations and was booming. “In 1760 [Tuite] journeyed to Copenhagen, where Fredrick V appointed him chamberlain and paid tribute to his role as founder of Denmark’s Caribbean empire. … slave-trading and plantation-owning had made him the friend of kings.” – History Ireland: The Irish and the Atlantic slave trade.

While there were a few wealthy Irish plantation owners like Tuite, most of the Irish who initially populated the Danish colony on St Croix were laborers. And while many of the West Indians today bear the Irish surnames of the former slave owners, many also have shared heritage from the Irish laborers who became a part of the eclectic cultural fabric of the island and intermarried with those of African descent. And that brings us to the beautiful diversity of the St Patrick’s Day parade on St Croix.

If you haven’t yet been, be sure to make plans for next year. Slainte!

Irie St Croix Ball Cap

$26.50

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Irie St Croix Short-Sleeve Unisex T-Shirt

$28.00 – $34.50

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Crucian Bahn Yah Short-Sleeve Unisex T-Shirt

$25.00 – $34.00

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7 of My Favorite Christmas Island St Croix Holiday Gifts

December 11, 2015 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 1 Comment

If you’ve been to St Croix around the holidays, you know why we call it Christmas Island! There are so many festive holiday events like the St Croix Christmas Boat Parade and it’s the time of year that we celebrate Carnival with mini-events, the fair grounds and the big Three Kings Day Parade. It’s really the most wonderful time of the year.

In celebration of this magical time of giving, here is my annual list of my favorite gifts – all created right here on St Croix – that you can share whether you are on St Croix or not. #shoplocalstx

Custom My-StCroix.com T-Shirts

Our line of T-shirts and apparel are made for the entire family and can exclusively be purchased online. Each design is custom made and helps us to keep sharing our love for the Big Island. If you love St Croix and what we do, share the love with one of our designs. Be sure to check back often as more designs become available! Shop My-StCroix.com

Bottles Reimagined

Bottles Reimagined is one of my favorite new St Croix businesses! Judi & Jeff collect discarded bottles that would otherwise end up in our landfill (there is sadly no commerical recycling on our island). After collecting the bottles, they hand-craft them into drinking glasses, carafes, hurricane lanterns and now… candles! The candles are to-die-for soy candles with delicious scents that include many of the Cruzan Rum flavors. Check out their newest flavor “Cruzan Confusion” inspired by that infamous rum cocktail that tastes delish but will knock you on your keister!

Be sure to visit their website www.bottlesreimagined.com to look through all their beautiful creations that include more than just rum bottles (you’ll find limited edition products from Vodka, Whiskey bottles and more!)

Danielle Kerns-Robinson 300MF

Local artist Danielle Kerns-Robinson creates the most beautiful bags, passport holders, backpacks and more out of vibrantly colored African wax print fabric. Her bags are incredibly well crafted and unique – each one is a piece of art! She also makes jewelry and other artwork. You can find her hand-crafted pieces in her Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/300mf or catch her at Art Thursday or other local craft fairs.

Make 300MF bags a part of your travel ensemble!

Turtle Girl Designs

I absolutely adore the whimsical sea creature inspired designs by local marine biologist and “Turtle Girl” Jeanne Garner, PhD. Jeanne has worked on St Croix studying and promoting conservation of the endangered sea turtles that find their way to our shores to nest. Needing a creative outlet, she started to share her love for the sea with custom-painted glassware. And it was a hit! Being produced by hand, each glass is unique. Be sure to check out all of her FUNctional aquatic inspired designs in her Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/STXTurtleGirlDesigns

Itiba Body & Spa Products

This isn’t the first time that Itiba products have made my Holiday Favorites list! And that’s because I’m a HUGE fan. You can shop for Itiba at their Frederiksted shop where all the magic happens, find their full product line on their website www.itibabeauty.com … and now you can even add products while shopping on Amazon! Your skin is the largest organ in your body and absorbs everything you put on it. Personally, I prefer to “feed” my skin with all-natural, high-quality and decadently scented soaps, body butters and oils. I love that when I put a bar of Itiba Soap in my shower – my entire bathroom smells incredible. Scents are inspired by the natural world here on St Croix … one of my favorites is the Carib Lime which is a great unisex-scent and pick me up for the morning. The Carib Lime body spray not only makes your skin feel smooth but doubles as an all natural bug spray to keep way the no-see-ums and mosquitoes.

Tags & Treats for Your Pets that support a great cause!

Don’t forget your furry kids! This holiday season give your pets the gift of a voice in case they get lost. These adorable ID tags are small enough to fit on your pet’s collar (they come with a clip for attaching) and have a fun design that is reminiscent of your state (or territory)’s driver’s license! And by using this link www.tagsforhope.com/?cause=217 25% of the proceeds will go directly to Sunshine Foundation a local 501(c)3 non-profit that provides low cost spay/neuter services for feral cats in our community and provides rescue and rehabilitation services for special cases of neglect and abuse.

If you happen to be on St Croix – pop into the Blue Mutt on Company Street in Christiansted where you’ll find locally made art along with pet toys and treats! Profits from this incredible, volunteer operated shop benefit the various animal welfare organizations on St Croix. You can also sign up for a variety of art classes offered in their gallery!

Deck the Walls with Local Photography

And lastly, if you like the images you see here on our website or on our popular My St Croix Facebook Page – you can find some of them here to order for prints or other items. I’ve always been drawn to landscape and architecture photography and using them to graphically share a story. You’ll find a selection of my favorite images from St Croix and other places I’ve visited in my online gallery cindyleigh.smugmug.com Check back often as I’m just getting a lot of these uploaded in time for the holidays!

Emancipation Day: A Truly Crucian Story

July 3, 2015 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 5 Comments

While many across the United States and its Territories observe the 4th of July holiday celebrating American Independence, July 3rd marks a very important holiday here in the US Virgin Islands – Emancipation Day.

One of my favorite books is Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende which tells the harrowing saga of Zarité from her slavery on a sugar plantation in Saint-Domingue through her escape and participation in the uprising and successful slave revolt in Haiti to her eventual arrival in New Orleans. Though it is historical fiction it offers insight into a dark time and the struggles and strength associated with survival amidst such brutality.

Here on St Croix, there’s a very similar and equally heroic story.

History of Emancipation in the US Virgin Islands

70 years after the revolutionists in the thirteen colonies rose up from tyranny in 1776 and 17 years before chattel slavery was fully abolished in the United States*, the enslaved on St Croix banded together and coordinated an uprising. They were the second island in the Caribbean after Haiti to demand their freedom and set the precedent for emancipation throughout the Caribbean. It is often said that Danish Governor Peter von Scholten abolished chattel slavery. And while it is technically true, it was actually an uprising of heroic enslaved people on July 3, 1848, that prompted him to do it much earlier than he had planned.

Appointed Governor-General in 1827 by King Frederick of Denmark, von Scholten was an advocate of the gradual emancipation of the enslaved people. Undoubtedly, his mistress and confidante, “free-coloured” Anna Heegaard, had an influence on his philosophies. The trans-Atlantic slave trade had ceased in 1803. But, the brutality of forced chattel slave labor on the sugar plantations continued on St Croix and throughout the Caribbean.

In 1839, von Scholten began building schools to educate enslaved children. In 1847 Governor von Scholten proposed his 12-year plan to emancipate the enslaved. A plan that was quite unpopular with local plantation owners.

General Buddhoe

John Gottlieb (General Buddhoe) a skilled, freed slave was not about to wait 12 years. Buddhoe, along with his Admiral Martin King, organized the enslaved workers on the West End of St Croix. They coordinated a gathering in Frederiksted at the blowing of the conch shell on the morning of July 3, 1848. Following the call, a large group of enslaved and free coloreds stormed and took Fort Frederik. The crowd demanded that by noon the enslaved be declared free or they would burn down the town.

They sent the ultimatum to Governor von Scholten in Christiansted. Some hypothesize that von Scholten and Buddhoe may have had a previous clandestine agreement. Other stories have it that von Scholten was en route to the slave school at Mount Victory just outside of Frederiksted to oversee an exam when he received the word and was diverted.

Either way, the deadline was extended slightly and by 3 pm von Scholten declared the enslaved to be free. Knowing the history of the Haitian rebellion, they avoided what undoubtedly could have been a very bloody battle with many casualties.

von-scholten-school-mt-victory — Ruins of the von Scholten School at Mount Victory Camp

Freedom for the enslaved didn’t mean true emancipation. Many of them still toiled in unfair conditions earning meager wages that kept them impoverished. In October 1878, labor organizers rebelled again … led by three rebel Queens for the “fyah burn” but that’s another story for another time.

St Croix and many other influential Crucians have had a significant impact on the United States and its history. West Indian-born Alexander Hamilton spent his formative years working for an accountant on St Croix and it was his Crucian benefactors that paid for his education in New York. He later became Chief Staff Aide to General George Washington, the 1st US Secretary of the Treasury, and holds an esteemed place on the US $10 bill.

“The history of labor organizers and the long-term impact of our history and how it ties into US history is significant. Many of the labor organizers in the early 1900s’ in New York were Crucians. Hubert Harrison is referred to as ‘the foremost Afro-American intellect of his time’ and the ‘father of Harlem Radicalism.'” – Frandelle Gerard, Director Crucian History and Nature Tourism (CHANT)

To learn more about the incredible history of St Croix and the US Virgin Islands while on St Croix, book a walking tour or a hike with one of the many knowledgeable guides at CHANT. You can also visit Estate Whim Museum, a part of the St Croix Landmarks Society to learn more about life on a working sugar plantation.

*While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on September 22, 1862, by President Abraham Lincoln, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 – a full two and a half years later – that Federal troops went into Galveston, Texas to inform the enslaved people that they had been freed. We now celebrate that day as Juneteenth. Juneteenth was declared a Federal Holiday in 2021.

A Taste of Christmas Island: Coquito

December 21, 2013 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 2 Comments

There’s nothing like Christmas Island, St Croix, for the holidays – but even that doesn’t replace time with the family so I’ve headed home to New England for a pre-Christmas visit. I’m not a fan of the cold – AT ALL, that’s why I live in the tropics – but I do love the picturesque, snowy scenery out the window of my childhood home. Especially when cozied up by the fire.

However, even with all of the hometown comforts, the islands are never far from my heart. So, I decided to share a bit of Christmas Island with family and friends at my Mother’s annual Holiday Open House… Coquito!

Coquito is the Puerto Rican version of eggnog and a staple of St Croix Christmas celebrations thanks to the large Puerto Rican population on the island. Coquito (“little coconut” en Espangnol) is actually fairly easy to make and you’ll find many variants on the basic recipe. Of course, being a Caribbean beverage, one of the main ingredients is rum! It’s typically served chilled, straight up in a glass or over ice, but you can also use it to flavor your coffee, in custards and to top ice cream.

I’m a pinch of this, dash of that gal who goes loosely by recipes and more by taste – so no two batches of mine are exactly alike. Feel free to take this basic recipe and tweak it to your taste.

Christmas Island Coquito Recipe

1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Can of Evaporated Milk
1 to 1 1/2 cans of Coconut Milk (I prefer Goya)
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Nutmeg
Cruzan Rum: Here’s where I really do a dash of this or that. Today’s batch – super yummy – was a 6-count of Cruzan 9 spiced Rum, a splash of Cruzan Vanilla Rum (I needed to empty the bottle to use it) and then I filled the empty can of Condensed Milk with Cruzan Coconut Rum to measure it out.
Pour all ingredients into a blender, cover, and blend until frothy. A minute or so.
Pour the mixture into an empty rum bottle and chill for at least an hour. You will likely have a little more than a bottle of rum… So if you have an empty jar or pint bottle use that to store it… Or just drink it right away 🙂

I hope you enjoy this little taste of Christmas Island as much as I do! And if you’re on St Croix during the holidays, don’t forget to head out to the LaReine Chicken Shack for their annual Coquito Festival where you’ll get to sample lots of variations and enjoy their world-famous rotisserie chicken too.

Happy Holidays!

St Croix Christmas Boat Parade

December 13, 2013 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

I still remember my first St Croix Christmas Boat Parade in 2001. I had just moved down to the island the week before and was feeling a bit sad about missing Christmas in New England. That all changed the day I experienced the Boat Parade and realized that St Croix truly is Christmas Island! I remember standing at the Deck Bar on the board walk with a few friends and thinking – Yep, this is where I am meant to be. It was magical.

Follow the My St Croix Facebook Page for Live Coverage

Started in 1999 as a volunteer effort and celebration of the boating culture here in the VI, the St Croix Christmas Boat Parade has become the largest boat parade in all of the Caribbean and it just keeps growing! Volunteers work tirelessly for months putting things together, acquiring sponsorship for the fireworks display and host numerous meetings to ensure that the boat captains know all of the rules and put safety first. Then the boats pull their crews and friends together to go overboard decorating! There are boats with DJs and bands and they really go all out.

Nowadays, its a day-long celebration in the historic town of Christiansted. There are festivities for the kids and and fairs where you can find local made crafts and other goodies for gift-giving. Shops are open in town and there are festivities on the boardwalk throughout the day.

The real show kicks off at dusk when the parade begins with boats decked out in a spectacular display of lights and holiday cheer.

Don’t miss this fantastic Crucian Christmas celebration – be sure to be in town EARLY so you get a good spot!

If you’re not here this year, start making plans for a St Croix vacation next year built around this terrific event.

Find more Crucian Christmas Festivities on our St Croix Events Calendar

12 Holiday Gift Ideas from Christmas Island

December 3, 2013 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 1 Comment

Once again this year, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things! Twelve to be exact. And each one has been created or at least imagined here on St Croix aka Christmas Island. We always recommend shopping local and shopping small on St Croix – but you can’t always be here. So, below are some of my favorite St Croix things and places to buy them online so that you too can share a piece of the islands mon.

My-StCroix.com Gift Shop
We’ve got lots of great gear and gifts for the St Croix enthusiast with new items always being added. Supporting the Gift Shop helps us to keep bringing you all the great info, events and “where to” guides found on our My-StCroix.com website and Facebook Page. Our Zazzle Store has also got daily sales thru Christmas and shipping is fast to get to you in time for the holidays. So, what are you waiting for?! Grab a t-shirt, mouse pad or coffee mug and show the world… I ♥ St Croix

St. Croix Food & Wine Experience: A Culinary Guide to the Island Featuring More Than 100 Recipes from Island and Celebrity Chefs

I just love this cookbook and have one in my kitchen. You’ll find recipes for everything from apps to main dishes to desserts and even cocktails (of course featuring Cruzan Rum™) from some of St Croix’s favorite restaurants and their popular chefs. This is the ultimate gift for the St Croix culinary groupie. Pair it with a bottle of Cruzan Rum and a bottle of Miss Anna’s hot sauce for the perfect gift (see below)!

Miss Anna’s Hot Sauce

If you’ve been out to eat just about anywhere on St Croix, you’ve likely come across Miss Anna’s Hot Sauce on the table. This unique blend of curry, garlic, habanero and spices was originally created by the famed Miss Anna’s grandfather on St. Lucia over 100 years ago as a condiment for his fish. Years later when Miss Anna moved to St Croix with the family-recipe, her hand-crafted hot sauce became an island staple. Today, you can find it in most grocery stores and restaurants in the USVI and I’ve even found it on shelves in Maine! (see picture). This is a great little gift to add to gift baskets for the holidays or as a stocking stuffer for any island enthusiast.

Order online: www.missannashotsauce.com

St Croix Snorkeling Guide
This inexpensive little book is a fun beginner’s guide to snorkeling spots on St Croix. Makes an excellent stocking stuffer or gift for someone planning a trip under the waves of St Croix. Pair it with a gift certificate from St Croix Ultimate Blue Water Adventures for snorkel gear or Dive lessons and you have the perfect water-lover’s gift!

Christmas Island

Jimmy Buffet may have wrote this in the Florida Keys, but I’m sure he was thinking of the real Christmas Island… St Croix! Our little island in the sun is one of the most festive holiday places I’ve known with the yearly day-after Thanksgiving Jump Up, Christmas Boat Parade, Crucian Christmas Carnival and Three Kings Parade. Download this fun, island-y Christmas Album and you’re sure to get into the Crucian Christmas Spirit!

Cruzan Rum!

With almost 20 different flavors and proofs to choose from, you can’t go wrong with a little taste of this island spirit (pun totally intended, I just couldn’t help myself). Cruzan Rum has been distilled on St Croix by the Nelthropp Family since 1760 (and they are still running the Cruzan Rum Factory so be sure to take a Tour while on St Croix). Pick up a bottle of your favorite flavor or the Aged Single Barrel as a hostess gift when you’re heading out to the next holiday party.

Find out where to Buy Cruzan Rum in your Locale

ib Design – Share the love!

ib Design is one of the most popular jewelry stores on St Croix and for good reason. They make handcrafted “feel good” jewelry. You’ll often find artisan Whealon Massicott working in their quaint shop in Christiansted and his wife Kris helping excited customers make the perfect choice.

Order online: www.ibdesignsvi.com

Experience the islands with Itiba

If you want to know what the island smells and feels like, shop Itiba. Simply the most decadent scents in soaps, body oils, body butters and more – all made with 100% natural goodness and made locally here on St Croix. Owner Yoki Hanley has recently opened her new shop in Frederiksted so be sure to stop by when you’re here. Your senses will thank you. Tip: My favorite is the Carib Lime which is an invigorating unisex scent that not only gets me going in the morning but just leaving it in the shower makes my entire bathroom smell like a spa!

Order online: www.itibabeauty.com
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The St Croix Food & Wine Experience

April 25, 2012 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

There are no shortage of events and festivals on St Croix, but each year the one I eagerly anticipate the most is the St Croix Food & Wine Experience. Held each April and rated in 2009 by Forbes Magazine as one of the Ten Best International Food and Wine Festivals by Forbes Travel, over the past 12 years it has grown from a one-night event to a weeklong series of educational opportunities and culinary celebrations.

Founded in 2001 by local Restaurateurs and friends Katherine Pugliese {eat @ cane bay} and Kelly Odom {Tutto Bene} as a way to bring the restaurant community together, it started with the anchor event A Taste of St Croix and grew from there. And boy, has it grown! From one night of friendly local competition to a week long series of culinary celebrations and educational opportunities, the St Croix Food & Wine Experience has raised over $500,000 for the St Croix Foundation who then invest the money in local non-profit organizations and island-wide improvement initiatives.

The 2012 week-long list of events heavily tapped into the skills of visiting celebrity chefs. Their participation ranged from judging the culinary competition at A Taste of St Croix to showing off their kitchen skills and acclaimed dishes at various exclusive wine-pairing dinners to teaching and mentoring up and coming chefs in our local high school culinary programs. There were also wine symposiums and events including the Sunset BBQ in Frederiksted, Wine in the Warehouse and Cuisine on the Green. For a full list of events Click Here.

2012 participating chefs and sommeliers included:

Govind Armstrong – Owner of Post and Beam and 8oz Burger Bar. Author of Small Bites, Big Nights: Seductive Little Plates for Intimate Occasions and Lavish Parties. He’s been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, O Magazine, and People’s 50 Most Beautiful People issue.
Anthony Giglio – Journalist, sommelier, and educator. Author of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Food & Wine Wine Guide, Mr. Boston Summer Cocktails and Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide (Mr. Boston: Official Bartender’s & Party Guide) and more.
Eric Greenspan – Owner of The Foundry and The Roof in LA and co-host of A&E’s “Fix This Kitchen”. Chef Eric has been featured on “Best Thing I Ever Ate”, “The Traveler’s Guide to Life”, “The Next Iron Chef”n “Bar Rescue”, “Hell’s Kitchen”, “Extreme Chef” and “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” and beat Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef America”.
Roberto Trevino – Owner of Budatai and Casa Lola in Puerto Rico. Chef Trevino has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, and Bon Appétit. He competed on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and rumor has it he’s working on his own television show with Telemundo.
Ana Sortun – Owner of Oleana and Sofra Bakery in Cambridge, MA. Chef Sortun was voted “Best Chef in the Northeast” 2005 by the James Beard Foundation
Evelyn Paul – A successful private chef in Atlanta, GA, Chef Paul was born on St. Lucia, but grew up here on St Croix! She has been featured in Jezebel Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Daily Candy, CBS Atlanta, Points North and is the contributing food editor for Cotton Candy Magazine
Merlin Verrier – Executive Chef and Director of Operations for Graham Elliot in Chicago. Named “Hottest Chef in Chicago” 2011.
Sue Zemanick – Executive Chef at Gautreau’s Restaurant in New Orleans. Chef Zemanick was a 2009, 2010, and 2011 James Beard Award Finalist “Rising Star” and one of Food & Wine”s “Top 10 Best New Chefs” 2008. She also competed on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters Series in 2011.
Theo Gumbs – Personal Chef. Chef Theo is known for his fusion of Thai and Caribbean cuisine. He’s developed these into a line of sauces and spice blends which you can find on Theo’s Caribbean Foods. He has also recently launched a new 7-episode televison series The Virgin Gourmet

Celebrities pose for a picture with event co-founders Kelly Odom & Katherine Pugliese

A Taste of St Croix, the event that started it all. You can’t imagine a better Caribbean culinary experience!

A Taste of St Croix is held each year, beachside at the Divi Carina Bay Resort.

Great wine, amazing food, celebrity chefs, dancing and the beach. What more can you ask for?

The events feature an opportunity to taste and explore wines from around the world presented by
local purveyors and often the vintner’s themselves.

One of the things I heard throughout the week from most of the chefs was how impressed they were
by the abundance and quality of locally grown produce here on St Croix.

Visit St Croix and you can enjoy home-grown produce year-round at many of our local restaurants,
at weekly farmer’s markets and sold at roadside farm stands.
Buy Local! It’s fresher, healthier and supports our local economy.

Coming up … Part 2 – A Taste of St Croix

To purchase the books mentioned in this article, click the images below.

Christmas Countdown: A Few of my Favorite Things

December 15, 2011 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

Christmas is just around the corner and I don’t know about you, but I’m no where NEAR done shopping! This year, I plan to whole-heartedly embrace the “shop local” ideal by purchasing gifts that celebrate St Croix and support local business. If you’re not here on St Croix, but still want to give the gift of the islands, here’s a few of my favorite things with links for online shopping!

St Croix Food & Wine Experience: A Culinary Guide to the Island Featuring More than 100 Recipes from Island & Celebrity Chefs
By Jane Watkins with Steve Bennet & Katherine Pugliese

This beautiful book is so much more than a cookbook! Yes, it features incredible recipes from known celebrity Chefs like Govind Armstrong, Kevin Rathbun & Ana Sortun who competed on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, it also features recipes & cocktails by local St Croix favorites – many of whom I’m lucky enough to call friend. I absolutely love flipping through the pages and seeing so many familiar faces! This book covers all the bases with incredible photography, a gorgeous layout and beautifully written pages on St Croix’s history & culture by Steve Bennett of Uncommon Caribbean (one of my absolute favorite blogs). A feast for all the senses and the perfect holiday gift!

Click to Purchase

ib design St Croix Island collection — i

ib designs Jewelry

I think my family probably has more pieces of ib than I do! It’s always a hit for gift-giving and I love the compliments I get when wearing mine. You may have even spied country star Kenny Chesney wearing a “J” hook (hand-crafted by Whealan Massicott, owner and artisan) that celebrate’s Kenny’s love for St John. It was featured in People Magazine a few year’s back as one of Kenny’s favorite things!

But, we are lucky to have Whealan, Kris and their store right here on St Croix. Each piece is inspired by the natural surroundings of the island and the island spirit. My favorite designs include the “wave” and “karma”, but the St Croix island cut bracelet is also a big holiday hit and a great way to carry St Croix with you wherever you go.

If you’re on St Croix, you can find a huge selection of their Chaney Jewelry (shards of colorful old china pieces) at Franklin’s on the Waterfront next to Polly’s at the Pier. I like to think of Chaney as wearable candy, but its oh-so-much-better than those old candy necklaces!

Crucian Gold

I have a confession. I’m in love with the Butterfly Effect earrings but don’t have a pair. They are on my Christmas List and I’ve been a good girl this year, so I’m hoping Santa comes through for me. Crucian Gold is another St Croix favorite and you’ll see a lot of ladies (and men) adorned with their pieces. It’s a small, family business run by jeweler Brian Bishop and his sons Ben and Nathan who now create many of their designs.

This past summer, Crucian Gold sent Miss Universe Virgin Islands contestant Alexandrya Evans to Brazil with Moko Jumbie pendants as a gift for all of the contestants. Way to spread the St Croix love! Crucian Gold is home to the original “Crucian Knot” – check out their collection!

itiba soaps — itiba Natural Soaps & Lotions

Itiba: Nature-Earth-Beauty

Itaba natural soaps and lotions are simply decadent. Products are made using all natural ingredients with careful attention to being kind and gentle to the skin (owner Yoki Hanley started her endeavor when her own daughter’s skin sensitivities became a challenge). My favorite scent is the Midnite Rain which is soft and natural and reminiscent of a light romantic rain. Itiba soaps and lotions have been a featured product in gift bags at the 2010 Academy Awards and 2011 Grammy Awards among other high profile events. But don’t worry, the products are still affordable. So get some St Croix-style to put in your favorite celebrity’s stocking!

10 Reasons I love St Croix

December 8, 2011 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 5 Comments

In December 2001, I got on a plane with my dog and two cats and took a giant leap of faith moving to the Caribbean. It was something I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl wistfully watching “Gilligan’s Island”, “Pipi Longstocking” and “The Swiss Family Robinson”. Yes, the thought of being stranded on a tropical island was enticing to me. So when I had the opportunity to move down with a start up travel company, I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the company that moved me to St Croix didn’t last, but I did and I haven’t regretted it for a single moment in these past ten years. So, to celebrate my milestone I’ve compiled a Top Ten list of reasons I love St Croix and the Virgin Islands and island life. Enjoy!10. The Weather

Originally from Canada and growing up in New England, you’d think that I would like snow, but the only powdery white stuff I like is the sand on our St Croix beaches! The weather here averages a balmy 85°F year round. And right now the weather is simply glorious with the Christmas winds (Trade Winds) picking up and offering a gentle breeze. The nights are cooler too in the winter, low 70’s on the hill where I live, perfect sleeping weather. Truly paradise.

Click for weather forecast

9. The Environment

Rolling green hills dot the island and the azure blue ocean is our backyard. I’m blessed to live on an island where most residents appreciate her beauty and there are many organizations that work to protect our environment. Recently, The Palms at Pelican Cove, along with three other beaches in the Virgin Islands, raised Blue Flags after the year long, intense application process. This means that some of our beaches are now internationally recognized as being some of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful in the world.

St Croix North Shore — A beautiful day on St Croix’s North Shore

8. Celebrations & Parades

No one could ever accuse St Croix of being a party pooper. When it comes to celebrating, Virgin Islanders have it down. We LOVE to come out and celebrate and will look for any excuse. And of course every celebration includes live music, great food and lots of Cruzan Rum. There is Jump Up four times a year which is a huge block party in downtown Christiansted where shops have sidewalk sales, restaurants serve streetside, the Mocko Jumbies parade in the streets and there is music on every corner, literally. This weekend we have the Christiansted Boat Parade which is the largest boat parade in the Caribbean. It’s a huge family-friendly celebration topped off with a spectacular fireworks display. It really kicks off the Crucian Christmas Carnival (I can’t wait for the Three Kings Carnival Parade). In February, we have the Agricultural Fair to look forward to (I always eat my way through it – so many great local flavors). In March, St Patrick’s Day Parade is a non-stop day of fun and green where the whole island comes out to celebrate St Croix’s Irish Heritage throughout the streets of Christiansted… there are so many fundraisers and celebrations throughout the year. To keep up, check out our St Croix Events Calendar.

Mocko Jumbie Jump Up Christiansted St Croix — You’ll find Mocko Jumbies at many Virgin Islands Celebrations

St Croix Christmas Boat Parade is fun for the whole family

7. Quelbe – the Music of the Virgin Islands

A big part of celebrating in the Virgin Islands is listening to live music. My personal favorite is the light and cheery folk music born of the Virgin Islands when it was a Danish colony – Quelbe. To me Quelbe embodies everything pure and good about the Virgin Islands. It’s the persevering human spirit that even amidst hardship finds joy and shares joy. When you listen, you can’t help but smile and dance. It reminds me of my grandparents for some reason and that always makes my smile even bigger. Below is a short clip of the documentary “The Jamesie Project” which offers an amazing glimpse into the world of Quelbe. Jamesie is a living legend in the Virgin Islands and has worked hard to pass on the tradition of Quelbe, the official music of the Virgin Islands. Another favorite is Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights whose Quelbe renditions of traditional Christmas songs really gets me in the holiday spirit!

6. Buck Island

Nothing says “St Croix Vacation” more than a trip out to Buck Island. Whether its spending a Sunday on a friend’s boat limin’ in the water at Turtle Beach on the West End or jumping aboard one of the many National Park certified Tour Operators for a snorkel trip through the East End Reef, Buck Island Reef National Park is not to be missed. The 176-acre island is less than a third of the protected marine park, most of it is underwater. The East end reef and marked snorkel trail is actually an underwater National Monument and home to a fantastical array of fishes and marine life. When I first moved to the island, I was lucky enough to spend weekends crewing with Big Beard’s Adventure Tours and developed a deep love for this incredible resource in my back yard. Hmm its been awhile, I think I need to take a trip out there soon!

Big Beard's Adventure Tours — Spend the day with Big Beard’s Adventure Tours at Buck Island. Photo by Jerry Merten of www.mjsvisionsvi.com

5. Scuba Diving

What can I NOT say about Scuba Diving on St Croix?! We have some of the best diving in the Caribbean and possibly the world. With reefs, wrecks and walls just a short boat ride or an even shorter shore dive, its easy to get spoiled here. I’ve certainly become addicted to the peace and tranquility I feel when I’m underwater peeking into the marine world. My favorite dive site is still the Frederiksted Pier where I can meander slowly among the pylons and observe the dynamic life that exists under the feet of cruise ship passengers. If you’re lucky and patient, you may even spy a seahorse or two. If you’re not a certified diver, you can try a “Discover Scuba Dive” at one of our many excellent PADI-certified dive centers like St Croix Ultimate Blue Water Adventures better known as SCUBA, the Friendliest Dive Shop on Earth. In just a couple of hours, they’ll get you diving in up to 40-feet of water. Warning, once you try it, you’ll get addicted. I did.

St Croix SCUBA — St Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures aka SCUBA

4. The Food!

In the ten years that I’ve lived here, in culinary terms, St Croix has really made a name for itself. The St Croix Food & Wine Experience has put us on the culinary map with some of the top chefs in the food industry and they are taking notice! The festival itself was named one of the Top Ten Food & Wine festivals in the WORLD by Forbes Travel a few years back and it just keeps getting better year after year. The reason, it highlights the culinary artists that work in our local restaurants year-round. So, even though the event happens in April – you can sample their fare any time. Our restaurants offer just about everything: local West Indian food like Roti, Doubles, Kallaloo and Goat Stew; Caribbean Fusion; Sushi (and we have the FRESHEST locally caught fish brought in almost daily); Mediterranean; American Bistro; French Continental; Thai; and much more. Check out our St Croix Dining Guide organized by area and style which is constantly being updated.

Want to take home the taste of St Croix? You can purchase the cookbook produced by The St Croix Food & Wine Experience with over 100 recipes by both local and stateside renowned chefs. You’ll find celebrity chef contributors like Govind Armstrong, Michael Ferraro, Betty Fraser, Anita Lo, Tim Love, Kevin Rathbun, Gabriel Rucker, Liza Shaw, Ana Sortun, Roberto Trevino, and Just Desserts judge Dannielle Kyrillos. Island chef contributors include Elvet Carty, Jill Dedinsky, Patrick Gribbin, Leslie Gumbs, Patrick James, Jane Lansiquot, Camisha Lynch, Diane Mohammed, Angela Morales, Negust Kaza, Lance Lowman, Burton Peterson, Frank Pugliese, Joseph Stiles, Mat Vacharat, and many more. Makes a great holiday gift. Bon Appetit!

3. Community Organizations

When you live on an island that’s 26-miles long and 6-miles wide at its thickest point, life gets cozy with your neighbors. I think that’s why we have so many Community Organizations and so many of us are active participants. Its not only easy, but chic to support these crucial groups who offer social services and the arts. Almost every weekend there is a fundraiser of some sort adding to our festive culture. There are too many great organizations to list, but a few of my favorite community and non-profit organizations are: Sunshine Foundation, Caribbean Community Theatre, The Boys and Girls Club of the Virgin Islands, CASA of the Virgin Islands, and VICARE. Make it a point to choose something here or in your own community and lend a helping hand – volunteering is good for the soul!

2. Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge

When I was little and fantasized about my own personal deserted tropical island, I’m pretty sure it was a premonition of Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge that I saw. This pristine wildlife refuge is only accessible from roughly October through April and only on the weekends until 4pm during those months. Why? It is listed as critical nesting habitat for the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle. Leatherbacks, hawksbill and green sea turtles nest there undisturbed and in abundance during the summer months. Endangered Least Terns (shore birds) place their eggs in the sand. For this reason, it is closed to the public the majority of the time and carefully monitored. And because of the light impact humans have, it remains one of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean. There are no facilities, but they have recently paved the once treacherous road out to the beach. Pack a cooler and spend the day – you won’t be disappointed! But remember to carry out what you carry in – Leave only footprints behind. The turtles thank you.

1. Island Family & Friends

Now that I’ve been on St Croix for ten years, I feel I can say with a bit of an expert opinion that St Croix attracts some of the warmest, kindest and adventurous people I’ve ever met. In fact, I’ve lived here now longer than any other place in my life and there’s a reason… my island family and friends. Many of us have packed up and moved away from the safety net of our family. However, once on island you will find so many open hearts. We choose our family here and I’m blessed to have one of the best. I cherish watching my friends’ kids growing into kind-hearted, polite children who have been “raised by a village”. They are respectful of others and aren’t materialistic. They say “please” and “thank you”. They aren’t afraid to fall down because they know they have twenty plus “aunties” and “uncles” right there to pick them up. And we are there to pick up each other when needed too. So, the Number 1 Reason I love St Croix is you my island family and friends and I wouldn’t trade you for the world! Here’s to the next 10 years of adventures together!!

… So these are just 10 reasons I love St Croix, there are so many more. Keep reading my blog to find out all about them. And let us know below what YOUR favorite things about St Croix are!!