Despite not having as many visitors attend the Culinary Arts Festival as he would have liked, Tourism Minister Ewart Brown called the event a success.

Fewer than 100 tourists attended the event, he said, though he did not yet have exact numbers.

The Ministry will have 30 days to do a post-event analysis and will be analysing ways to get ?bigger bang for the buck? and more visitors attending next year.

The festival ran from November 11 to 16. The event, run in conjunction with Food & Wine magazine, has attracted some of the world?s best chefs and wine experts. It was first held in 2002 when hundreds of visitors made the trip to Bermuda.

This year, the Ministry of Tourism was the primary sponsor of the event, heavily promoting it in key gateway cities.

Dr. Brown said the event already seemed to be well-established, despite this being only its second year.

Hits included the gala dinner where awards were presented, and three-time Academy Award nominated actress Sigourney Weaver, who hosted the event.

?She was very nice, very warm and genuine,? Dr. Brown said, adding the actress ?lived up to her promise to swim? ? with a dip at Horseshoe Bay, despite last week?s chilly weather.

The cooking events enjoyed ?fairly good attendance?, a Ministry spokesperson said, and between 300 and 400 people purchased tickets for the gala dinner. Attendance at the local component was ?very good?.

The event showed promise, Dr. Brown said ? the kinks just have to be ironed out, with attracting more visitors a top priority.

Dr. Brown said he hoped the festival would prove to be ?one of the world?s leading food and wine festivals?.