Pickleball Meets Fine Dining: The Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival at Atlantis Bahamas combined gourmet cuisine, live entertainment, and an exciting pickleball event. This year’s event featured celebrity chefs, legendary musicians, and a thrilling pickleball match that added a competitive edge to the festivities.
Pickleball Match Steals the Show
One of the festival’s highlights was a spirited pickleball match featuring “Extra’s” Billy Bush and renowned chef José Andrés facing off against chefs JJ Johnson and Alon Shaya.
The friendly yet competitive game brought a fun, unexpected twist to the food-filled weekend, showcasing pickleball’s growing popularity among celebrities and athletes.
Celebrity Chefs and Culinary Excellence
The festival featured some of the culinary world’s biggest names, including Chef José Andrés, Michael White, JJ Johnson, and Alon Shaya. Atlantis Paradise Island’s President & Managing Director, Audrey Oswell, expressed her excitement about this year’s lineup.
“A lot of excitement this year. Some of our regular chefs, Chef José Andrés, Michael White, JJ Johnson, Alon Shaya, they’re all here and then we have some visiting guests this year, Bobby Flay is here for the first time.” – (Audrey Oswell)
Bobby Flay, who hosted the Taste of Paradise event, reflected on his return to Atlantis.
“I had a restaurant here at Atlantis about 10 years ago. We didn’t have the festival then, this is only like three years old so it’s really, really growing but it’s really good to be back here.” – (Bobby Flay)
Food Network’s Katie Lee also made a splash at the festival, hosting a special Wine Dinner and introducing her sugar-free rosé, Kinda Wild.
Music, Entertainment, and More
The festival was not just about food—it delivered top-tier entertainment as well. The Baha Men energized the crowd, while Shaggy took center stage at the Jerk Jam. The festival also featured a powerful Gospel Brunch, adding a soulful touch to the event.
Growing Tradition with Pickleball in the Mix
With its mix of world-class cuisine, live entertainment, and sports, the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival continues to evolve. The inclusion of pickleball added excitement, proving that the sport’s rapid rise extends beyond dedicated courts and into high-profile events.
News in Brief: Pickleball Meets Fine Dining
The Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival at Atlantis Bahamas featured celebrity chefs, live entertainment, and an exciting pickleball match. Billy Bush and José Andrés played against JJ Johnson and Alon Shaya. Bobby Flay hosted Taste of Paradise, while Shaggy and the Baha Men brought the music, making it an unforgettable experience.
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