Preparations are underway to host Dominica’s only outdoor cooking event, ‘WATO’ which means fire in Dominica’s Kalinago language.
The event which is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Rosalie Bay Resort & Spa is held annually and forms part of the calendar of events for the 2024 Independence Celebrations.
According to ‘WATO’ creator Chef Nyana Peltier-Charles, during a press conference held recently, many people don’t understand the concept WATO.
“My intention was to really keep that outdoor cooking tradition alive in Dominica,” she explained.
“The event started with 20 of my friends in the heights of Pointe Michel and has now turned out into this unique experience with way more than 20 people,” she added.
Peltier-Charles continued, “At WATO you are given all of your ingredients, everything local. All the meats are local and you are given three stones and your firewood and you cook for yourself.”
Furthermore, she mentioned that last year her team brought in some chefs from different Caribbean islands and has decided to bring them back this year.
“This year we are going to have seven chefs from different islands,” Peltier-Charles revealed. “We have Bequia, St Lucia, Barbados, St Maarten, and Martinique.”
Meanwhile, she said WATO will be celebrated under the theme: “Bouyon Love”, a theme chosen in homage to Dominica’s Bouyon music, “and our one pot which is also called a bouyon.”
Entertainment is expected to come from the Sakis Lapo Kabwit, The Karina Dancers, cultural dancers, and the Circus of Dominica.
Tickets for the event are available via ticketpal.com.
KUDOS to MEDOS..
This woman has single handedly created the most UNIQUE experience for independence and in the country on a whole. Corporate sponsors need to work in conjunction with her team to make this a world class food and beverage festival for the season