Rise & Rum breakfast party shines with flavour and fun

Rise & Rum The Breakfast Beach Party was the penultimate event of the ultimate Foodie Dream Weekend at the Barbados Food and Rum Festival and it did not disappoint.

From as early as 4 a.m., the vibe was set for an epic breakfast party. Hundreds of partiers flocked to Harbour Lights Beach Club to welcome the sun with delectable cuisine and delicious cocktails flowing freely.

The theme was ‘sunrise yellow’, and the fashionable crowd came dressed in their best interpretations. It made for a spectacular sight as patrons partied the morning away to the pulsating sounds of soca, sprinkled with a few dancehall tunes.

Peter Ram was the first performer to storm the stage, singing a slew of hits such as Crop Over Good Morning, Breakfast Morning Jam, Woman by My Side and Pumping. His performance had the crowd fully awake and ready for the morning ahead. Next up was Trinidadian sensation GBM Nutron. His recent collaboration with producer and DJ Jus Jay and singer Grateful Co has earned him new Bajan fans who made their way to the front of the stage to savour his performance. Tunes like Practice, Hot Gyal Anthem and Down Dey were well received by the audience. Grateful Co later joined him on stage to perform their hit song When Last.

Big bands Square One and Krosfyah have the unique ability to unite generations. Patrons, young and old, sang along to their hits, word for word. Square One frontwoman Alison Hinds is still in fine voice and form, and the chemistry on stage with her bandmates Anderson Blood Armstrong and O’Shaka Riley was magnetic. With numerous hits spanning decades, the crowd could not get enough. Aye Aye Aye, Turn It Around, Kitty Cat, Bazodee and Togetherness were just a sample of the sweet tunes that they pumped out.

Krosfyah received an overwhelming response, too. Still as charismatic as ever, lead singers Edwin Yearwood and Khiomal pulled out all the stops to ensure a memorable performance. Crowd favourites were Yardie, Pump Me Up, Wet Me, Oil Pumping and Sak Pase.

The Food & Rum chefs and mixologists were innovative with their culinary creations. Chef Ann-Marie Leach’s vegan pudding and souse was a hit with meat eaters and vegans alike. Other standout food offerings were Chef Marvin Applewhaite’s crabby patties and sweet potato churros, and Chef Tremaine Reece’s A Tribute to the Fisherfolk (grilled and smoked dolphin marinated in pickled cucumber with deep-fried steamed pudding) and These Fields and Hills (coconut-scented roast corn chowder with mini cassava dumplings).

Slated to climax at 11 a.m., the vibes went on just a little longer as DJs Hutchy & Sizz brought the event to a close with some Bashment Soca hits. Despite the sweltering heat, the combination of food, rum, music and vibes made for an unforgettable event, highlighting why the Barbados Food & Rum Festival is a must-attend event.

(CJ)