Savor the Flavor of Martinique During Sainte-Marie Culinary Week.

12(th) Edition of Annual Gourmet Food Festival to Be Held May 13-20, 2007

NEW YORK -- The French West Indies island of Martinique shares, with distinctive panache, mainland France's love for gastronomy. One of the best expressions of this passion occurs each year in the small northern coastal town of Sainte-Marie, which hosts a weeklong culinary festival celebrating Martinique's unique gastronomic heritage and traditions. This year's Sainte-Marie Culinary Week will be held May 13-20, 2007 and promises to satisfy even the most demanding culinary travelers.

At the center of the Sainte-Marie Culinary Week festivities is a cooking competition. Each year, several local food products are chosen for competing chefs to use as the centerpiece of their culinary creations. For 2007, these include "fruit a pain" (bread fruit) and "christophines" (chayote). Local and international chefs engage in friendly competition throughout the week designed to share knowledge and cooking secrets, improve preparation methods and the quality of the dishes to further elevate the overall culinary experience in Martinique.

"Gastronomy is truly one of the things that set Martinique apart," said Muriel Wiltord, Director USA/Latin America for the Martinique Promotion Bureau/CMT USA. "Events like Sainte-Marie Culinary Week help us maintain our standing as a world-class culinary destination."

Cooking in Martinique is an art. Here, wizardly chefs routinely take something unexpected, such as spiny sea urchins, and create a souffle that is positively spellbinding. Traditional French cuisine is widely available throughout the island and rivals that found in any Parisian eatery. But what really sets Martinique apart is its Creole flair. A sublime blend of African, Indian, European and Caribbean flavors, Martinique's Creole culinary creations keep visitors coming back again and again.

About Martinique (www.martinique.org)

A Little Bit of France in the Caribbean, The Isle of Flowers, The Rum Capital of the World - by any one of its many names Martinique remains one of the most alluring and enchanting destinations in the world; as unforgettable as a summer romance or a first kiss. Martinique is an overseas department of France, and like its Mother Country this vibrant island stirs the passions with awe-inspiring natural beauty, a rich cultural history, distinctive culinary delights, warm smiles and so much more. Napoleon's bride, Empress Josephine, was born and raised here. The Pompeii of the Caribbean, St. Pierre, is found here. The finest French products, from Chanel fashions to Limoges porcelain, are readily available here. La Route des Rhums, a tour of the world's finest rum distilleries based on France's famed Route des Vins, is offered here. A special place, to be sure, with so much to offer Martinique c'est magnifique!

For more information on Martinique, contact the Martinique Promotion Bureau /CMT USA, 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022 - Tel: [phone] - Fax: [phone] - Email: [e-mail] - Web site: www.martinique.org