‘CARIBBEAN DAYS’ REACH PARIS, WITH FOOD, ART, BOOKS

Tropical vibes permeated Paris at the beginning of June, when the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE) organized a five-day festival featuring the cuisine, contemporary visual art and literature of the Caribbean region.

Titled Caribbean Days / Journées des Caraibes, the inaugural Paris event took place June 2 to 6 during the annual Semaines de l’Amérique latines et des Caraibes (SALC), a French government initiative that celebrates the longstanding links France shares with Latin America and the Caribbean. 

SALC marked its 12th edition this year, and the festival was among the range of events that included concerts, exhibitions, dance performances and literary meet-ups.

Held at the imposing Maison de l’Amérique Latine (MAL), which occupies two “mansions” dating from the 18^th century, Caribbean Days comprised inventive multi-course lunches and dinners, created by three well-known young chefs and served in MAL’s acclaimed restaurant. It also featured an art exhibition with vivid works by rising Dominican artist Yermine Richardson, and an exposition of books by award-winning Caribbean writers, in Spanish, Portuguese and French translations.

The festival in the French capital followed successful editions in Brussels, Belgium. To learn more about the goals of the venture, SWAN spoke with Jo Spalburg, executive director of the CCCE. An edited version of the interview follows.

SWAN:  What is the aim of Caribbean Days?

Jo Spalburg: Caribbean Days is a vibrant series of business and cultural events designed to raise the profile of the Caribbean and to promote “The Best of the Caribbean”, featuring premium regional products such as cocoa, coffee, rum and spirits, and cigars. The program also celebrates the creative industries — including art, fashion, film, literature, music and dance — along with other cultural showcases. After a successful first edition in Brussels in 2022, the initiative is now expanding to other European cities.

SWAN:  And the main focus of the Paris event?

J.S.: The main focus of our first Caribbean Days in Paris is the arts; firstly culinary arts by means of our Caribbean Culinary Week at the renowned restaurant of La Maison de l'Amérique Latine, for which a special three-course Caribbean Gourmet Menu has been created by a group of Caribbean chefs of the famous French culinary association les Toques français; secondly a special art exhibition featuring works from Dominican painter Yermine Richardson (also known as @Popcaribe); and lastly a special Caribbean books exhibition by the Caribbean Translation Project [an initiative founded by Alecia McKenzie to highlight the translation of writing from and about the Caribbean and to profile pioneering translators].

SWAN: You also organized an event in Brussels last year - what were the principal features?

J.S.: At the Caribbean Days in Brussels in June 2024, we had the same kind of events, with the Belgian National Bartender competition, in conjunction with UBB (Belgian Union of Bartenders) and the Belgian national Latin Dance competition, in conjunction with BeSalsa, as well as our first Caribbean Gala Dinner.

SWAN: What else is on the 2025 calendar for the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe?

J.S.: The next edition of our Caribbean Days in Brussels will be held in November at the Steigenberger Wiltcher Hotel (with details to be confirmed).

Photos (top to bottom): Dominican artist Yermine Richardson, aka @Popcaribe, stands in front of one of his works; CCCE executive director Jo Spalburg, speaks at Caribbean Days on June 5; an exposition of books by Caribbean writers; chefs Jerome Bertin, Mathilde Durizot and Leila Albert address diners.