2014 Annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival
Conch Festival Celebrations Get Underway on November 28, 2014
Spongebob’s pet, Gary the Snail entertains thousands of young television viewers.
Turbo the garden snail delighted movie audiences with his onscreen antics.
But during the month of November, the humble sea snail is truly honored in an annual festival held in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Held on the last weekend of November, the 2014 Annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival is a celebration of the island’s cultural symbol, the conch (pronounced conk). Conch is a sea snail which is known for its unique spiral shaped shell and for being a culinary delicacy. Its meat is highly sought after because of its versatility and delicious flavour. Conch is the prime export for the islands and growing demand for it over the years has made it a valued and protected species.
Alan Lawley, Villa del Mar’s Director of Operations & Development states, “Once again Villa del Mar is a major sponsor of this cultural celebration in the Turks and Caicos Islands. As a member of the Board of Directors, I have witnessed firsthand how this food and heritage festival connects both locals and visitors. Visitors find genuine appreciation in the creative ways that our local Conch is showcased and celebrated. It is a terrific way to understand our local culture and how Conch features in the Turks and Caicos economy.”
Conch Festival Events and Activities
The Conch Festival began in 2004 when organizers wanted to bring more visitors to the Blue Hills, on the northern part of Providenciales. Since then it has grown into a highly successful event involving a variety of activities and large number of sponsors including the Villa Del Mar Resort who has lent their support now for many years.
The 2014 Festival will kick off on the Friday night with a Calypso night and then move into high gear on Saturday the 29th with conch culinary competitions, specialized conch skill contests, a mohito-making contest as well as a host of other activities and musical entertainment.
Culinary Cook Off
Chefs have been chopping, cutting, and creating in kitchens, all eager to win the bragging rights to the best dish.
They can enter a variety of categories for cash prizes:
- Best Conch Chowder
- Best Conch Salad
- Best Specialty Conch
- Best in Show
Festival attendees can sample the dishes and cast their vote for the Best in Show. It’s not all about professional cooks, however, as there is a Home Kitchen category as well. Home cooks can prepare their favourite conch recipe for the public to taste and evaluate and winners receive a cash prize.
Conch Preparation
While the chefs are pitting their culinary skills, other competitors are limbering up their fingers for the conch paring and peeling contests. These demand dexterity and a solid knowledge of the conch.
The method sounds more like a detailed operation than a culinary preparation:
- First, remove the digestive gland;
- Then, cut off the foot;
- Next, remove the plate attached to it called the operculum;
- Finally, remove the skin and other inedible parts, leaving only the sweet, white meat.
Contestants work quickly against a timer with the fastest most efficient declared the winner.
You’ll be conk-ed out by the crazy list of conch activities going on in this festival. There is a conch blowing contest, a conch hunt and a conch knocking contest in which contestants show off their speed and technique in extracting the conch from its shell.
Conch Mojitos Anyone? Just kidding…
For a change of pace, mixologists from around the islands pit their drink mixing skills against each other to come up with the best mohito. The mohito-making contest not only showcases the numerous variations on the Cuban cocktail, but also the marvelous mixing styles behind the bar.
Fun for the Kids
While contests abound, there are activities for children as well such as games, bouncing castle, and face painting. Henry the Conch will be on hand to greet festival goers. Dressed in his brightly coloured Bermuda shorts, this Turks and Caicos Islands costumed mascot, created by local artist Melbourne Penn, definitely attracts the young and the young-at-heart.
It’s a huge annual cultural event celebrating a national symbol of pride, the conch. The Turks and Caicos Conch Festival is a party and the guest of the honour more than a humble sea snail.
More Info
Magnetic Media
How2Heroes
Conch Festival Facebook
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