ST. THOMAS — St. Thomas Cooks goals to convey Virgin Islands delicacies to guests and locals alike by way of customized cooking courses.
Proprietor Benjamin Kraft stated the concept behind St. Thomas Cooks began along with his personal travels.
“After I was on trip I went to a cooking class and actually loved it,” Kraft recalled. “I heard increasingly that vacationers listed here are on the lookout for experiences, not simply the seashore and the jewellery shops.”
Kraft, who’s from Baton Rouge, La., has lived on St. Thomas for eight years. His skilled background is in increased schooling, as he beforehand labored for historic black schools and universities, together with the College of the Virgin Islands.
Along with his enterprise concept in thoughts, Kraft acquired an area within the Grand Lodge constructing in historic downtown Charlotte Amalie, throughout from Emancipation Backyard.
In December 2023, St. Thomas Cooks held its first cooking class, with a concentrate on native delicacies. Class sizes vary from 4 to 12 college students.
Kraft companions with native cooks Barbara LaRonde and Gavin Kearney to steer the courses.
He famous that the dish a category prepares can change, relying on the chef main the category, but additionally on the members’ preferences.
Earlier than college students enter the instructing kitchen, they resolve what protein they want to cook dinner; with a collection of fish, rooster, beef, or shrimp.
“We have to know upfront what protein they’ll need, so we are able to ensure that we’ve got it right here and prepared,” Kraft stated.
He added that transferring ahead they might additionally give choices of potential sauces that members may put together.
Throughout a current class led by chef LaRonde, college students cooked snapper in a lemongrass, coconut milk sauce. This was paired with native candy potatoes, plantains, and an assortment of recent greens.
For dessert, LaRonde handled visitors to bread pudding and mangoes.
“Vacationers who come are thinking about studying about native customs, practices and habits, that’s a part of why we concentrate on native cooking,” Kraft stated.
Along with introducing island flavors to guests, Kraft hopes his courses will help residents move on V.I. tradition.
“It may assist to move on to a different era cooking practices from previous generations, which can be increasingly troublesome to move on by way of the long run,” Kraft stated.
Kraft is wanting ahead to increasing his cooking courses for the youthful era, with programs for 5- to 7-year-olds, 8- to 12-year-olds, and youths.
“We participated within the Youngsters Play Expo, with the V.I. Youngsters’s Museum at UVI, and I acquired info from dad and mom on the very best occasions, and days for the courses,” Kraft stated.
He additionally hopes to develop his choices with a youngsters cooking summer season camp.
“It will increase their independence, it may result in a profession, it avoids having to get up mommy up on Saturday morning for breakfast, it’s a lifelong talent,” Kraft stated.
St. Thomas Cooks is obtainable for particular occasions, equivalent to bridal showers, birthday events, or company crew constructing actions.
“Going ahead we’re going to have pop-up meals and speciality occasions, like with a chef coming in who does Indian cooking, Thai cooking, or Italian,” Kraft stated.
Kraft’s recommendation for different aspiring entrepreneurs is straightforward, “observe your ardour.”
“Do analysis, and discover out if this specific market is a match for what you want doing,” Kraft stated. “Your ardour won’t match the market, however discover a place that your ardour suits, and go for it.”
For extra info on St. Thomas Cooks, go to stthomascooks.com.
