By Shikema Dey
Guyana Restaurant Week (GWR) is here again offering all and sundry the perfect opportunity to indulge in the delectable cuisines at affordable prices with the same great atmosphere.
This time around, 22 COVID-19 compliant eateries are ready to bring their A-Game from November 12 up until November 21 with two new additions joining the list – Taco Loco Mexican Restaurant and Heliconia Restaurant.
Launched on Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe at the MovieTowne Mall, the highly anticipated event is being held in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), sponsors and participating restaurants.
At the launch, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneigde Waldron made a special appeal to local restaurants to ‘up the ante’ on the unique culinary experience Guyana has to offer the world.
With a blend of six races, Guyana’s cuisine stands out from the rest and when marketed aptly, this can see the country receiving high ratings internationally, according to Waldron.
And with the government working to put Guyana’s tourism sector back on the map after the devastating effects of the pandemic, she underscored the importance of the culinary experience to integrated tourism.
“The culinary experience adds to the hospitality and to the ‘Destination Guyana’ that we are promoting. The experience people get at your restaurants speaks to the hospitality sector on a whole so that is why I urge you to up the ante, up your game,” she stated.
The minister noted that the outside world is looking at Guyana with “a critical eye” so it is imperative that restaurants always work to lift their standards and offer something exceptional to push ‘Destination Guyana.’
From 2014 to date, restaurants participating in GRW have boasted huge turnouts and each year is said to bring an increase in new faces and a wider variety of food choices since restaurants compete with creative menus.
This, according to THAG President, Harrinand Persaud is exciting as restaurants put creative spins on traditional dishes, showcasing Guyana’s culinary talents.
He assured that all of the establishments have strict COVID-19 measures and encouraged the public to indulge and enjoy the creative and diverse cuisine choices, deliciously crafted by some of Guyana’s finest culinary artisans.
The other participating restaurants are Aagman Indian Restaurant, Bistro Wine and Champagne Bar, Café Belavana, Bottle Restaurant at Cara Lodge, Java Coffee Bar, New Thriving, OMG Arawak Steak House, Sucre Restaurant at Herdmanston Lodge, the Duke @ Roraima Duke Lodge, Gourmet Grub, Terra Mere Restaurant @ Marriott, Hibiscus Restaurant, the Lime Restaurant at Park Vue, Grand Coastal, Keisha’s Crab Shack, Altitude Cocktail Bar and Grill, Hard Rock Café, RS53 Resto Bar and Lounge, and the Flame Restaurant and Grill.
Pre-fixed menus are $3,000 $5,000 or $6,000 for lunch and dinner. The full list can be found on the GRW website at www.thag.co/grw.
