Chef Mathayom | St. John Catering

A flat lay image featuring evergreen branches, a decorative card that reads 'December Where the magic happens,' and two polaroid-style photos of smiling chefs alongside a plate of food.

Welcome 2026 the Island Way

As December unfolds and the holidays carry us toward the New Year, St. John begins to buzz with celebration. Whether you’re arriving on island for a festive family gathering, a long-awaited tropical escape, or a New Year’s toast under the stars, our team is here to make every moment taste memorable.

At St. John Catering, we believe great celebrations start with great hospitality—warm, thoughtful, and effortless for our guests. From intimate villa dinners to lively New Year’s Eve feasts, we handle the details so you can savor the people, the view, and the start of a beautiful new year.

New Year’s Eve, Elevated

Whether you’re hosting a full villa party or planning a refined dinner for your closest friends, we’ll craft a menu and service style that matches the tone of your night.

Think:

Passed canapés featuring local seafood & bright island flavors
Chef-prepared multi-course dinners plated tableside
A celebratory champagne toast (we can coordinate bar staffing, glassware, and mixers)
Late-night grazing boards for when the countdown calls for one more bite
From quiet luxury to festive and fun, we tailor every detail.

Wake Up to a New Year—Beautifully

There’s something special about the first morning of the year on St. John: pastel skies, calm bays, warm breezes, and that unmistakable feeling of fresh possibility.

Start 2026 with a villa brunch prepared just for you.

Sample New Year’s Day Menu Ideas:

Coconut rum French toast with caramelized bananas
Smoked salmon platters with capers, herbs & island bread
Egg frittatas with garden vegetables from Josephine’s Greens
Breakfast sliders, fresh fruit spreads, and local pastries
Fresh-squeezed juices, brunch cocktails, and curated coffee service

We’ll prep, serve, and clean up—so you can ease into the year in true island style.

January Travel: Peak Paradise, Zero Stress

If you’re planning a winter vacation in January 2026, St. John Catering can support your stay with:

Full-service villa dinners for families, friend groups, and special celebrations
Provisioning & pre-arrival groceries stocked before you walk through the door
Boat-ready meals for charter days
Welcome parties, sunset gatherings, or beach-picnic spreads
Multi-day chef services, perfect for long villa stays and milestone trips

Sit back and enjoy your time on island—we’ll keep your group fed, happy, and well taken care of.

Island-to-Table Flavor for Every Celebration

As always, our menus highlight the best of the Virgin Islands: reef-caught seafood, locally grown produce, Caribbean herbs, and island-inspired comfort dishes. Working with fishermen, farmers, and artisans across St. John, we bring freshness, quality, and authenticity to every meal.

How to Book Your Holiday & New Year Catering

Booking early is encouraged—New Year’s Eve and January travel are some of the busiest times on St. John.

Here’s how to get started:

Share your dates & villa location
Let us know the type of experience you’re envisioning—NYE dinner, brunch, multi-day service, provisioning, or something custom
We build the menu, staff, and service details, tailored to your group
Arrive & enjoy—you focus on your vacation, we’ll handle the rest

Start Your Year with Flavor, Warmth & Ease

From midnight toasts to sunrise brunches to the long, lazy days of January, St. John Catering is here to make your holiday travel unforgettable. Whether you’re celebrating with a group of friends, gathering with family, or sneaking away for something intimate and peaceful, we’ll help you make every moment delicious.

Call Chef Mathayom at St. John Catering: +1 (340) 690-3868

Prefer email? Reach out to office@stjohncatering.com to begin planning your New Year’s and January catering experience.

Christmas tree decorated with lights, ornaments, and a red skirt, placed in a cozy corner of a wooden-finished room with bookshelves and festive decorations. — Let us set up a beautifully decorated Christmas tree adorned with ornaments and lights, creating a festive atmosphere during your stay in St. John, USVI.

A bowl of sautéed mushrooms served on a bed of arugula, with sides of macaroni, mashed potatoes, and asparagus in the background. — A beautifully plated dish featuring tender mushrooms, served in Vermont.

A Year of Journeys and Joyful Tables

For me, travel has always been about more than scenery—it’s about connection. Over the past year, I’ve journeyed from Costa Rica and Mexico to Philadelphia, New York, Vermont, Dallas, Puerto Rico, and more. Each meal—whether shared under tropical skies or around a family table—became a celebration of memory and flavor.

Last month, we talked about the “island‑to‑table” approach here on St. John—how every ingredient, from red hind grouper to mangoes, is chosen for its connection to the land and sea. This blog continues that story—through my travels and how those experiences feed my culinary vision.

Costa Rica & Mexico: Sunshine, Sand, and Flavor

In Costa Rica, the pace of life set the tone for meals—gallo pinto with just‑picked mango, fish fresh off the grill, and pineapples so vibrant they redefined sweetness. Mexico’s streets, in contrast, pulsed with energy—tacos al pastor, quesadillas, and buzzing markets taught me that authenticity is found in simplicity and passion.

These journeys reinforced the truth I bring home to St. John: when food is local, fresh, and rooted in place, it tells a story that enriches every bite.

Stateside Adventures: Philly, NYC & Vermont

The U.S. leg of my travels held its own lessons. Philadelphia’s cheesesteaks embodied comfort. New York offered an endless array—from bagels in Brooklyn to rooftop dinners in Manhattan. In Vermont, I slowed down: meals of farmstead cheese, heirloom vegetables, and warm maple syrup felt like a pastoral embrace.

Dallas Surprises & Puerto Rican Celebrations

Dallas’s Koreatown stunned me—banchan spreads and sizzling grills brought dinner to life. In Puerto Rico, I celebrated a birthday with mofongo, delicious mocktails, and sunsets that tasted of celebration. Meanwhile, trips to Arlington, VA and Wilmington, NC brought me back to what matters most, spending quality time with family.

Bringing It Back Home: St. John Catering

All these experiences reinforce one thing: food is connection, story, and memory. This isn’t just travel—it’s fuel I bring into every villa dinner and event with St. John Catering. Whether I’m serving reef‑caught snapper or island-grown mango, I build menus around the freshest ingredients, infused with the places and meals that inspired me.

And as in last month’s blog, my sourcing remains grounded in our community—working with local fishermen, farmers, and Josephine’s Greens for produce straight from soil to plate.

Let’s Create Your Next Culinary Journey

You don’t have to travel the world to taste it. At St. John Catering, I bring global inspiration and local authenticity to every table—whether for villa dinners, weddings, or special events.

Let’s make your next meal unforgettable—meaningful, delicious, and rooted in place.

Call Chef Mathayom at St. John Catering: +1 (340) 690-3868

Email: office@stjohncatering.com