A Grand Opening for Dazzled Kitchen is on the menu for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Company St. in downtown Christiansted.
Dazzled – the cabaret, bar, and social club was the new venue on the block in October 2022. The former Captain’s Table location offered dance events and a specialty bar for early-evening and late-night party-goers.
The lighted courtyard setting is the perfect spot for everything festive and homegrown Crucian elegance.
Owners Garincha and Jennifer Hilaire joined the Salsa Festival in late July with a soft opening that provided a Tapas menu of eclectic foods from their Dazzled kitchen. Their patrons were enamored of the quality and the presentation of Chef Adams’ cuisine. It was “Foodies Heaven,” a diner expressed.
Chef Adams Haynes brings his culinary artistry to Dazzled with a background of 27 years of cheffing. “I’m always happy with food. It’s a creative outlet for me…something I discovered a long time ago as a kid. I found the joy of cooking with my grandmother, and as a latchkey kid, I was always fending for myself.”
Chef Adams’ stint in the military found himself on weekend training in California as the one who always ended up cooking for a lot of people.
It all kind of evolved, he said.
“I was going to school for something totally different. I started working in restaurants and it all fell into place. I have more of a creative mind, and it works for me.”
Chef Adams was trained at Johnson Wales University at Charleston, SC. He earned a bachelor’s degree in food service management and an associate’s degree in culinary art. He has worked at big hotels, five-star restaurants, food trucks, and so much more. His most recent venture is a bed and breakfast that he and his wife Jules owned and operated on the North Shore of St. Croix, which they sold in 2022.
According to Jules, she is the “logistics” person in this culinary partnership, while Adams holds the reins in the creativity department. After the sale of their North Shore property, the couple continued to accept private chef services and were available for events.
Call it serendipity…
When Adams and Jules took Salsa classes with Jennifer and Garincha Hilaire
[St. Croix Dance Studio], they talked about their lives after the classes. The Hilaires knew that Adams and Jules were the ones who would grand open their Dazzled Kitchen.
Foodies and plain old hungry folks are in for a treat that will not only encore the Tapas served at Dazzled for the Salsa Festival, it will open their appetites and delight their palates for the menu Chef Adams will prepare for them every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Dazzled Kitchen in the Courtyard.
A chef from the Frederiksted Ridge to Reef kitchen will join Chef Adams this weekend. He looks forward to other chefs collaborating with him on future weekends.
Chef Adams’ menu will change every week, using a variety of local produce, meat, fish, poultry, and provisions. He gave the Source a “sneak peek” at his menu:
“Jerk Chicken Stuffed Pepper” with citrus herb rice, Artisan cheeses, avocado mousse, & a Stout chile BBQ sauce.
“Trio of Chips & Dips” Poblano Pesto Feta – Guacamole Cruda – Garlic, Herb & Citrus Hummus, House Chips, Plantain, Cucumber & Carrot Sticks
“Dazzled Cuban” Roasted Pulled Pork, Smoked Ham, Sweet & Sour Slaw, Poblano Pesto Feta & Mango Curry Aioli + House Chips
“Ancient Grain Salad” with roasted local pumpkin, grapes, and truffle citrus vinaigrette.
Chef Adams purchases blue corn meal from a company in South Carolina that he will turn into blue corn polenta cakes with a shrimp bruschetta on top.
If the reader is not salivating by now, there is always Lemon Passionfruit Cheesecake for dessert with French Creme.
Dazzled has collaborated with Dani Facenda, aka Tea Mama, who uses her local tea syrups to make specialty cocktails for Dazzled:
Gin Blossom, Thank Goddess, and Bourbon Beauty.
Dazzled bartenders have created Flirty Rumba, Mango Tango, and Be Dazzled.
Dazzled will offer dining every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Late Night Party from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Schedule for Grand Opening:
Thursday
6-9 p.m. Dinner with Kiki and the Fire Dancers
9-12 p.m. Late Night Party – ”World Music”
Friday
6-9 p.m. Dinner and live music with Adrian and Leyna
9-12 p.m. Late Night Party – “Get Loose/Top 40”
Saturday
6-9 p.m. Dinner with St.Croix Ballroom & Latin Dance Showcase
9-12 p.m. Late Night Party “Latin Dance”
For more information:
Dazzled STX – 340-244-7470
