What started as a weekend event has now involved into a monthly series of exclusive dinners and beach parties. This year’s Taste of Lovango promises to be better than ever with the first event kicking off on Friday, February 27th.
The Lovango Resort & Beach Club is planning to bring in an impressive line up of chefs to head up the USVI’s tastiest event of the year, including two of St. John’s best – Alex Ewald, owner of La Tapa, and Vince Alterio, owner of STJ Speakeasy. Here is a complete list of events:
February 27th – Little Gems Chefs’ Dinner
All three of Little Gem Resorts’ – Lovango Resort & Beach Club, The Nantucket Hotel and Winnetu Oceanside Resort – executive chefs will come together for an unforgettable evening of island-inspired cuisine and coastal creativity.
Join Lovango’s Chef Kyle McKnight, Chef Michael Hervieux of The Nantucket Hotel, and Chef Richard Doucette of Winnetu Oceanside Resort as they unite for a culinary event on Lovango. Each course will showcase the chefs’ unique coastal influences—from the Caribbean to Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket.
March 20th Dinner
Chef Bhavin Chhatwani is a rising star whose journey spans culinary cultures and continents. Chef Bhavin currently serves as Executive Chef at Tamasha Modern Indian in Raleigh, North Carolina, where his work has earned national recognition: he was named a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Foundation “Emerging Chef” award, and has earned accolades for re-imagining Indian cuisine through fine-dining lens.
April 17th Dinner
Chef Ricky Moore is a James Beard Award–winning chef celebrated for his soulful approach to Southern seafood. A North Carolina native, he is the chef and owner of Saltbox Seafood Joint, where his cooking highlights fresh, local catch and the traditions of coastal Carolina cuisine. Known for his warmth, authenticity, and deep respect for community and heritage, Chef Moore brings heart and history to every dish he serves.
May 9th Beach Party w/ Local Legends
Chef Alex Ewald is the chef-owner of La Tapa in Cruz Bay, renowned for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with Caribbean flair.
Chef Vinny Alterio is St. John–based private chef and restaurateur known for globally inspired cuisine with a refined, island-forward approach. He is the owner of STJ Speakeasy.
Chef Kenny Claxton is a Virgin Islands chef celebrated for fresh, ocean-driven dishes and a deep connection to local seafood and sourcing.
Chef Jucinto Durant is a St. Thomas–born, Johnson & Wales-trained chef blending classical technique with elevated Caribbean flavors as a private chef, consultant, and culinary partner across the USVI.
May 15th Dinner
Chef Robbie Felice, a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist and chef-owner of acclaimed restaurants Viaggio Ristorante and PastaRamen, is known for his bold, genre-defying approach—blending Japanese and Italian influences into dishes that are as inventive as they are unforgettable.
He joins Chef Brian Arruda, Founder of Executive Chefs at Home and graduate of New York’s Culinary Institute of America, whose career spans the kitchens of Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Jean-Georges. Arruda’s refined coastal cuisine, rooted in seasonality and balance, reflects the soul of the islands and fine dining. Together, they will collaborate on an exclusive culinary experience.
June 13th Beach Party
This event will feature celebrity chefs from Puerto Rico. Details to be announced.
June 19th Dinner
Chef Nina Compton, a St. Lucia–born chef and winner of the 2018 James Beard “Best Chef: South,” is the Chef/Owner of New Orleans’ acclaimed Compère Lapin and the fast-casual Nina’s Creole Cottage. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she trained under legendary chefs in New York and Miami before gaining national attention as a finalist and fan favorite on Top Chef: New Orleans. Her celebrated cuisine blends Caribbean flavors with French and Italian influences. In 2025, she released her first cookbook, Kwéyòl / Creole, sharing recipes and stories from her culinary journey. As part of the dinner guests will receive a copy of her new cook book.
Lovango Resort & Beach Club is located on the island of Lovango, which is a quick, 15-minute ferry ride from Cruz Bay. Lovango is a US island, so no passport is needed.
You can learn more about this event and purchase tickets online at www.tasteoflovango.com. All tickets include transportation to and from Lovango.
Want to spend at day at Lovango? You can buy a day pass to its beach club or visit for lunch and dinner? Click the link below to read about my day at the Lovango Beach Club.
