Food, Wine & Fête’s Vanessa James On Why Caribbean Culture Deserves More Than Sand And Sun Stories

Vanessa “VJ” James has been telling Caribbean stories before it became a trend. As one of the most recognized voice-over talents in the country, she has always understood the power of a voice, which is why she has created a legacy that promotes diversity and inclusion among those who don’t always get the spotlight.

James has spent her career helping people and brands tell their stories, but Food, Wine & Fete (FWF) may be her biggest story yet. She and the festival co-founder, Marcos Rodriguez, are highlighting and celebrating Caribbean flavors and culture with FWF. Now in its fifth year, FWF 2026 raises the bar as the ultimate passport to the Caribbean.

For the first time in the festival’s history, Caribbean destinations are teaming up with the co-founders to bring the region’s spirit to life in one place with a full-sensory celebration of the diaspora’s most visionary chefs, world-class spirits, immersive tourism activations, and the high-octane rhythms of Soca music. Grenada, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda are some of the countries that will be represented.

Travel Noire spoke to James to discuss representation, the responsibility of her platform, and why this is only the beginning.

Travel Noire: How did your voice-over work open doors to becoming a broader voice for Caribbean culture and storytelling?

Vanessa James: After leaving [the radio business] and becoming a full-time storyteller and creative, I realized that I could travel anywhere in the world, mic in tow. Once I understood the power of that flexibility, I knew I wanted to pour back into my community and culture and be able to develop events that celebrated the diaspora more broadly and share the voices of the Caribbean diaspora that so often get overlooked.

Traveling throughout the Caribbean, specifically during Carnival season, really allowed me to see the vibrancy that is Caribbean culture and Caribbean people. I knew I wanted to bottle up the energy we evoke during Carnival (playing mas) and the culinary experiences that each island brings to the forefront.

So when I created FWF, it was with intention and my community at the top of my mind. Now moving into its fifth year, I wouldn’t be able to continue [as] a full-time voice actress without the flexibility that that part of my media arm brings. It allows me to pop up on the microphone while on an event site walk-through, while doing a load-in, and also sometimes in my car before doing an event.

Being a voice actress is a full-time gig, and I love it because I get to be a storyteller for other brands and help them shine. But it’s also allowed me to see how much there is a need for more voices in my own community, and that’s what Food, Wine, and Fete aims to serve as.

Travel Noire: What does representation in travel and lifestyle media actually look like to you, and where does it still fall short?

James: I think back to the days of Rachel from BET’s Island Style, and realize that was the first time I saw a Caribbean girl on television showcasing our beautiful diaspora. Knowing that “wow, that could be me one day” and sharing my perspective through my own lens was everything.

Obviously, since then, the industry has developed in so many ways, and it’s wonderful to see so many creatives not waiting for major outlets or networks to give them the green light to produce and create their work.

However, that’s also the one area where I think we still fall short. The consolidation of networks and entities has shrunk the pool, quite literally, of journalists and storytellers who are able to share their perspectives as it relates to travel. I think we still have a long way to go in terms of being seen on those major networks and outlets consistently.

But the tide is also turning on how we consume information, even in travel. It’s wonderful to see that the audience is not waiting. They are using social media to find people who look like them and relate most to them for their information. But with that comes a responsibility for us as creatives and storytellers to also be truth-tellers. And make sure we are giving voice to the people and causes we believe in, not just for clicks and clout, but more importantly, for the culture we hold so dear.

Travel Noire: Food, Wine, and Fête has grown into a real cultural moment. What was the original spark behind it, and how has its mission evolved?

James: I love how you said that… FWF has absolutely turned into a movement and a moment that our community and diaspora look forward to every season, which is wild to think of in itself. 

Can you imagine that my partner, Marcos Rodriguez, and I came up with this concept pre-pandemic from a euphoric Carnival experience in Trinidad? We decided we needed to bottle up all the senses we experienced and bring them to the mainland of Miami. The food that you smell chipping through the streets of Port of Spain, the rhythm and the drums that you hear J’ouvert morning, the pomp and circumstance of costumes and fete decor, and the soul behind it all, that is the driving force of the vibe. We wanted to bring those things into one experience here for people to enjoy.

What it has evolved into, which is really wonderful and, to be honest, quite surprising to see, is that it’s become something the community here in South Florida, as well as the diaspora, looks forward to every year. People are now calling us to expand the experience to maybe one more time per year or to smaller satellite events that highlight the annual festival.

How do you think about the relationship between food, music, and travel as tools for shaping how people connect with Caribbean identity?

James: Food, music, travel, and now Carnival are the driving forces behind why people are flocking to the Caribbean, and that’s why FWF is so special. We know our culinary offerings are world-class and worth traveling for. Now the world does, too.

People know the Caribbean is naturally abundant in sand, sun, and fun, but now you don’t have to choose because the Caribbean has it all, and that’s what makes a trip there so special. It’s like, pick your island: a unique experience and cultural moment is waiting, and who wouldn’t want that?

As a Caribbean woman and a daughter of Trinidad and Tobago, culture is and has always been a part of who I am. For us, immersive experiences of the diaspora are what we’ve always been used to, but it’s now exciting to see others (who are not from here or weren’t born here) want to know more and dive deeper, while respecting the traditions, heritage, and the people of the Caribbean.

Travel Noire: In a media landscape driven by personality and authenticity, how do you stay intentional about the narratives you amplify?

James: I stay intentional by making sure the narrative is never just about me. It’s about us. For me, authenticity isn’t a buzzword [rather] a responsibility to the culture that raised me.

I realize that I’m not just putting together a festival or a platform: I’m building a space that amplifies the people who are actually moving the needle. By focusing on the Caribbean creatives [such as] the chefs, the artisans, and the voices doing the work on the ground, I can ensure that the stories we tell are rooted in the community first.

I’m also very careful about moving beyond those “sand and sun” clichés the world is so used to. Our islands are so much deeper than that. They are built on stories of resistance, the history of emancipation, and the rituals that actually make us who we are. It’s about showing the world that our culture is world-class, while making sure every recommendation or story we share respects where we came from.

Travel Noire:  How do you see your platform influencing where and how people choose to travel, especially to the Caribbean?

James: The vision for the future of Food, Wine & Fête is massive. We are currently building it out to be the ultimate gateway to the Caribbean. More than just an annual event, it’s evolving into a space where people can come to create their own itineraries based on our curated recommendations. You’ll be able to join us at the festival to meet our featured chefs, and then eventually fly out to experience those same creators in their own restaurants and kitchens across the region.

The vision is for you to be able to hopscotch the islands during Carnival season to explore the different ways we celebrate resistance and emancipation

One of the most amazing things about this journey has been how euphoric it is. I realize I’m not just putting together a festival. I’m creating culture by amplifying the community and the people moving it forward.

Food, Wine & Fête 2026 takes place May 16 at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami. General admission tickets start at $144.70 and are available on Eventbrite. For more information, visit foodwineandfete.com.

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