Digby Stridiron

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Digby Stridiron is an American celebrity chef from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, he is known as the Culinary Ambassador for USVI Tourism.[1][2]

Early life and education[edit]

Stridiron is born St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. After he served The United States Air Force,[3] he attended Johnson & Wales University in North Carolina.[4]

Career[edit]

Stridiron went back to St. Croix in 2007 and became the head chef at The Shores Restaurant. While working there, he also cooked for celebrities like actress Vivica A. Fox and Kerry Rhodes. Later, he traveled with musicians Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj as their personal chef.

Stridiron owned and ran two restaurants, "balter" and "braata," in his hometown of St. Croix. His cooking earned a place in USA Today's list of the 10 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean and was also recognized in Carib Journal’s Top 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

In 2017, he was honored by the Iconoclast List at the James Beard House, being named one of the Top 5 Chefs of Color globally.[5] He served as a culinary representative for the U.S. Virgin Islands and earned the title of Chef of the Year in 2014 from the Caribbean Tourism Association.[6] Additionally, he participated in a training program with the James Beard Foundation and organized the inaugural James Beard chef dinner in the U.S. Virgin Islands.[7][8]

In 2018, Braata opened in Frederiksted and was quickly recognized as one of the 50 best restaurants by Carib Journal. Food and Wine magazine called it "the heart and soul of Caribbean food." Carib Journal also named Stridiron their "2018 Chef of the Year" at the World Travel Awards.[9][10]In the same year, he was named the executive chef of the restaurant Parcel 32.[11]

In 2019, Stridiron opened Ama at Cane Bay, a sustainable seafood restaurant on the North Shore of St. Croix, as well as Breakers Roar and Carolines. Recently, Stridiron has moved to St. Thomas.[12][13]

In 2023, Stridiron became the head chef of Latha, a restaurant in downtown Phoenix.[14] Latha officially opened to the public in April 2023, showcasing a blend of flavors from Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the American South.[15]

Philosophy and style[edit]

Stridiron focuses on West Indian culinary traditions influenced by the African diaspora, using fresh seasonal ingredients.[16] With a focus on food equality, he is inspired by seasonal ingredients and regional recipes, allowing history to guide him.[17]

Recognition[edit]

His work has been recognized by Food and Wine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Departure, Bon Appetit, Plate, Travel & Leisure, The New Yorker, Coastal Living, Eater, and many other publications.[18][19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wilson, Kimberly (2016-01-04). "Chef Digby Stridiron is Making St. Croix the Culinary Destination of the Caribbean". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  2. ^ Cole, Jennifer. "Chef Digby Stridiron's St. Croix Restaurant Is the New Heart of Caribbean Cooking". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  3. ^ "In St. Croix, a Culinary Awakening". Repeating Islands. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  4. ^ "St. Croix's Digby Stridiron Named Executive Chef at Parcel 32, Charleston". St. Thomas Source. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  5. ^ Alvarez Boyd, Sophia (December 30, 2017). "Celebrating More Than 30 Years Of The James Beard Foundation". NPR.
  6. ^ "Crucian Digby Stridiron Named CTO Chef of the Year". St. Thomas Source. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  7. ^ "St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  8. ^ "Celebrity Chefs for 2015 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience Announced". St. Croix Foundation. 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  9. ^ "Digby Stridiron". Charleston Wine + Food. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  10. ^ "About Chef Digby Stridiron". Latha Restaurant and Bar. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  11. ^ Perkins, Erin (2018-03-12). "Chef Digby Stridiron Wants to Change the Conversation on American Food". Eater Carolinas. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  12. ^ Gomez, Asha (April 3, 2019). "A taste of island life: U.S. Virgin Islands is melting pot of culinary traditions". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  13. ^ "Meet the Culinary Pros Who Nominated This Year's World's Best Restaurants". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  14. ^ Anooshahr, Bahar. "A trip to Africa inspired a restaurant. What to expect — and what you must try — at Latha". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  15. ^ Koeppel, Geri. "Immerse Yourself in the Culture and Food of Africa and the Diaspora at Latha". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  16. ^ "Island TV Chef Digby Stridiron : Fresh From Florida". www.followfreshfromflorida.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  17. ^ "St. Croix's Digby Stridiron Named Executive Chef at Parcel 32, Charleston". St. Thomas Source. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  18. ^ Mah, Ann (2016-09-23). "On St. Croix, a Restaurant Twists Caribbean Classics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  19. ^ "Chef Digby Stridiron's Recipe for Whole Caribbean Snapper, with Geera Shrimp and Avocado Salad". Eater. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  20. ^ Wilson, Korsha (2018-08-06). "For Digby Stridiron, All Roads Lead Back to the Virgin Islands". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
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