Saint Martin is not only renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant culture but, for those in the know, also for its exceptional cuisine. The influence of haute French gastronomy blends with exceptional local bounty and bold island flavors where an elevated visitor palate supports a rare culinary landscape in the Caribbean. The island’s epicurean zeal reaches its zenith each year during Le Festival de la Gastronomie de St. Martin, a showcase of the island’s best cuisine in a variety of categories. This festival, held on the French side of the island, is a must-visit for food enthusiasts or anyone looking to experience the unique flavors of Saint Martin combined with its penchant for celebration. Ahead of this year’s edition, I recently toured French Saint Martin to experience the cuisine and bar programs of past winners from private chefs and white-cloth restaurants to beachside bites, and here’s what I found.

Our welcome dinner at Del Arti Ristorante in Anse Marcel was an immediate eyeopener. The winner of last year’s Gourmet Star category and Best Table, it soon became clear how an Italian program managed to overtake the French prowess of the island. A deceptively simple menu of classic Italian pizzas and fresh pastas complemented mains like the catch of the day, osso buco, or signature duck tagliata, each prepared delicately with seasonal ingredients. The open-air floorplan invited a much-needed breeze from the nearby marina and enhanced the sense of casual elegance that would repeat often throughout the week.

© Discover Saint Martin

We later visited the home of second place Gourmet Star winner Villa Hibiscus for an unhurried tasting menu by Chef Bastian Schenk. Artful plates as dazzling as delicious arrived throughout the evening, accompanied by craft cocktails that also earned the venue second place in mixology. The romantic ambiance atop Saint Martin’s highest peak was an ideal setting for such a meticulous menu.

For sips from the festival’s mixology champion, we also spent an evening at Le Pressoir, where Alessandro Corona shook the restaurant’s signature cocktail for the table before our meal kicked off. Though Corona’s cocktails drew us in, don’t underestimate the kitchen here — it’s among the island’s best. In fact, it’s even been ranked as Best in the Caribbean by Caribbean Journal, and more than once. Inside a historic Creole cottage, French Caribbean cuisine is served at its finest, alongside a 250-bottle wine list, more than 150 rums and an attached cigar bar.

© Discover Saint Martin

But it’s not just in chic restaurants you’ll find the best bites in Saint Martin. Here, where secluded coves and sprawling shorelines offer many swoon-worthy settings, beach clubs are big business, and the menus are legitimate. Located in picture-perfect Orient Bay, Coco Beach is the reigning victor in the festival’s Beach Star competition and offers surfside bites of black truffle beef tartare, red tuna tacos and spice-crusted mahi mahi. Heartier plates like grilled veal tomahawk or black rice risotto with roasted scallops are available for the hungrier.

And, with a healthy share of jet-set arrivals, it’s no surprise Saint Martin is rich in private chefs and villas in which to welcome them. We stayed in Villa La Perla Estate, a seven-bedroom beachfront villa with three pools; multiple hot tubs; and a host of private amenities including a gym, spa suite and salon services on demand. Because it also included two open-air dining areas, a guest kitchen and a chef’s kitchen, we were able to accommodate private chefs for both an indulgent breakfast spread and an epic dinner party, allowing us to experience the artistry of the festival’s first and second place Private Chef winners, Chef Laura Antonelli and Chef Jean-Marie Jackson, respectively.

© Discover Saint Martin

Even without a villa, you can experience the ultimate exclusivity of private dining aboard a yacht with Pyratz Gourmet Sailing, offering both half- and full-day charters. We sailed Saint Martin’s Caribbean blue waters for an unforgettable day of snorkeling, paddleboarding, cliff diving and island hopping, but it was the caliber of meals and between-bites prepared onboard that set Pyratz apart, and were a regular reminder of just how important cuisine is to the people and visitor of Saint Martin.

This year’s festival runs Nov. 11–22 and will feature cooking demonstrations by these and other renowned chefs, scores of food and wine tastings, gourmet dinners, workshops, and culinary competitions as a new season of champions is crowned.