Cocktails might seem difficult to make, but Tortuga Rum's Cocktail Tsar Alex McClenaghan says anyone can make them.
Most people think of beer when they think of barbecue, but Jacques Scott Group’s Senior Sales Representative (Wine) Sergio Serrano demonstrated that there are some good red wines for meats off the grill.
The fourth Cayman Cookout was a superb showcase of all that is spectacular in Cayman’s culinary scene.
A new culinary lifestyle magazine has hit Cayman, promising to be an informative read of all things food and drink.
The Brasserie Restaurant played host to a 2012 Cayman Cookout event that was fit for royalty - The Impérial Lunch featuring Moët & Chandon Champagne - that featured a new kid on the block, Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial.
The Bon Vivant Cook-off competition came down to two Canadians who battled in front of a live audience and a celebrity chef judging panel, but it was Eric St-Cyr and his team that came out on top.
The delicious final of the 2011/12 Cook-off series will take place during the Bon Vivant Champagne Brunch at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on the final day of the Cayman Cookout.
As would be expected, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller didn't mince words when the Journal's Alan Markoff sat down with him for a dinner conversation at Luca Restaurant.
After
seeing sales tumble as the recession hit, Champagne shipments were up
nearly 22 percent comparing the first six months of this year to the
same period in 2010, with a total of 7.5 million bottles shipped to the
US as of June, according to the Washington-based Champagne Bureau.
A perfect pairing
January 04 , 2012 The ‘green’ wines from Merryvale’s Starmont winery provided the perfect match with the food served at the Brasserie’s Harvest Dinner, both in terms of taste and philosophy.
Taste of Cayman is an important festival to showcase the Cayman Islands. Taste
of Cayman is good for the economy and good for tourism both directly
and indirectly, according to the organisers, with this year’s festival
looking busy as ever.
Photos from the Out of the Kitchen event at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Having the right cooking equipment is vital when catering for large numbers. Bon Vivant has everything the home cook will need to get ready for Christmas - plus lots of great gift ideas.
Paul Rogalski is making real waves in the culinary world with his Canada restaurant, Rouge, but he cut his teeth right here in the Cayman Islands.
White truffles and Batasiolo wines were the focus of Blackbeard's annual truffle dinner, which this year was held at Ristorante Pappagallo.
These are exciting time for the Foster's Group of companies and The Journal heard all about it from the Group's managing director, Woody Foster, over lunch at the Black Trumpet Gourmet Delicatessen at Camana Bay.
South African wines offer New World flavours and Old World charm at value prices. South Africa has a long history of wine making and today its wines offer a fantastic value.
The Cayman Cookout is putting the Cayman Islands on the world's culinary map and attracting tourists as well.
Local chefs are revving up as the Bon Vivant 2012 Cayman Cookoff Cookout Series hots up.
Sweet gifts galore are available from the recently opened IT'SUGAR in George Town
Cayman Taffy's taste treats just keep getting better and better. Christmas gift baskets filled with Cayman made products are available on request
The K-Cup single brewing coffee system is taking Grand Cayman by storm.
Some of the most highly regarded Pinot Noir produced in the United States comes from Oregon, specifically the Willamette Valley
For the last few years, Ristorante Pappagallo has also been serving some of the most imaginative cocktails on Grand Cayman
Pairing the right wine to the right food can make both taste better.
Attending the Vinexpo wine trade show is how Cayman Distributor's Jodie Petts stays current with wine trends and in touch with wine industry professionals.
Cayman was well represented at a food and wine festival in a remote part of Ohio in July.
Tortuga Rum Company took away some prestigious awards from this year’s Spirits Masters Awards. The Journal caught up with the company’s brands manager Barnaby Richardson to find out more
Acidity levels in wine are an important dictator of its taste and the same can be said for oak levels also. The Journal teamed up with Jacques Scott to find out just how a wine’s acidity and oak levels affect our tastebuds when the wines are enjoyed with food. Four white wines were put to the test while Luca’s excellent cuisine provided the perfect backdrop against which the wines could be measured.
This
chef is as unpretentious as you can get and his down-to-earth
personality comes out in his new cookbook. Sit back and enjoy swapping
recipes with a good friend.
The Lobster Pot restaurant recently held the first ever Cider Dinner in the Cayman islands, pairing four artisanal Austrian ciders with a four course menu.
At Blackbeard's annual Guess the Grape event, held at Deckers, guests were treated to a specially created menu perfectly paired with wines, but the challenge was to guess not only the grape but also the country, location and vintage of each wine.
Review of a wine tasting with some very special wines from Washington State brought to Cayman by Blackbeards and served alongside elegant and delicious cuisine.
All the latest from Tortuga’s monthly events that bring together the worlds of art, food and wine to showcase the best of all three.
One of the most exciting movements in the wine world right now is the emergence of Malbec as a stellar varietal from Argentina’s Mendoza region. Wine lovers received a fantastic sampling of this versatile grape at a recent wine dinner held at Papagallo’s produced by Premier Wines and Spirits.
The Journal pays homage to a very special winery this month, San Patrignano, with their wines brought to the island by Jacques Scott and wine educator Aaron Jay of Palm Bay International. Winedown, the cosy restaurant and wine bar located in Governor’s Squ
A sumptuous feast was recently unveiled by owner/chef Keith Griffin at his Bacchus restaurant, highlighting the exceptional quality of flavour when it comes to cooking with Certified Angus Beef. The Journal was there for a sampling.
Premium sipping rums are gaining in popularity
Who knew a party in a freezer could be so much fun?
The honorary consulate of Spain hosted a dinner and concert at Luca in February.
Agua restaurant and lounge has always bucked the Sunday trend when it comes to brunch, holding their own succulent buffet-style spread of seafood, salads, mains and tempting desserts, plus that never ending supply of bubbly, on a Saturday. Now, for the first time last month, they decided to go with the flow and hold a Sunday brunch, in addition to their Saturday offering
ringing Gaja wines together with food prepared at Blue by Eric Ripert was, as Charlie Sheen would say, “epic”.
Complex reds, fruity and elegant whites, dazzling sparkling wines and classic aperitifs – Spain has it all when it comes to the world of wine. This month Blackbeards and the Journal bring you a selection of Spain’s finest, enjoyed against a backdrop of Calypso Grill’s tempting cuisine.
the Juronal talks to the finalists in January's cayman cook out.
A very special wine dinner recently took place at Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, celebrating the most revered of Italy’s wineries, Gaja, represented in Cayman by Jacques Scott, as well as raising money for an incredibly worthwhile and poignant cause, Facing Africa, which helps children in Africa suffering from the dreadful NOMA disease.
Francesco Sibilo, sommelier for Osetra Bay, introdcues six of his top wines.
Art Fusion at Tortuga:xploring new trends in the art world and some Argentina classics in the wine world
The Cayman Cookout is a good example of a public/private partnership that is working well.
Both the Blue Iguana Recovery Fund and a lucky Ritz-Carlton scholarship recipient will benefit from the funds raised at the event.
This blind wine tasting exercise has shown us two important lessons: that great wines can be found across all the wine distributors on island and that we should not be afraid of buying value-for-money wines.
Further expansion at Agua includes a fabulous wine cellar that is now enclosed in special temperature and humidity-controlled casing, enabling the owners to bring in and properly store some truly magical wines.
If growth in the Chinese wine industry, driven mainly by red wine, continues at the same rate the country will produce 128 million cases of wine in 2012, an increase of 77 per cent which would see it overtake Australia’s forecast of 121 million.
For the wine dinner, diners enjoyed a glass of Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley, a fruity expression of the grape, followed by Cakebread’s mellow and buttery Chardonnay.
Chef Thushara says he had to start at the very bottom and work his way up while studying.
Ortanique is the newest restaurant to open up at the Crescent at
Camana Bay, bringing with it an exciting mix of Caribbean flavours and
American flair, with an Asian touch.
Washington State, nestled in the top left hand corner of the US in
the Pacific Northwest region bordering Canada, is not necessarily the
first wine region that comes to mind when you are looking for a nice
fruity Riesling or perhaps a Bordeaux-blend,
Bon Vivant’s annual cook off for amateurs had some talented chefs pit
their talents against one another in two semi final rounds that saw
Tessa Gall and Fraser Hughes go through to the finals, to be held at The
Ritz-Carlton during Cayman Cook Out this month.
The Cracked Conch Restaurant and Macabuca Oceanside Tiki Bar &
Grill, located right on the waterfront in West Bay, give you a huge
variety of party options for this year’s Christmas bash,
Christmas in November? Yes, it did initially feel a bit strange
getting all festive mid November to make this December edition’s
deadline, however Jacques Scott’s specially chosen value-for-money
Christmas wines soon got the party in full swing.
You may find yourself lingering just that bit longer over brunch at
The Ritz-Carlton from now on, as Jacques Scott introduces the hotel to
Taittinger Champagne as its house Champagne for that most favoured of
Sunday repasts.
Even if you aren’t a Bacardi drinker, you need to give their Dragon
Berry white rum (CI$35.49) a go, the company’s newest flavoured rum,
mixing strawberries and that sweet,
Grand Old House’s Chef Thushara Jayalath Siriwardana was named Chef
of the Year and Leonard Khi from the Westin was named Bartender of the
Year at a gala ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton,
Put a group of wine and food lovers
together in a room with five courses of carefully crafted cuisine and exciting
and varied wines and have them pit their wits against each other in a brain
teasing wine and wisdom test and you are onto a sure-fire winner of an evening.
If you’re going to be in lovely Grand
Cayman this holiday, the one and only place that offers a breathtaking view of
the open sky, plus the perfect tropical location right on the wide open ocean,
terrific cuisine and a wonderful party atmosphere is the Cracked Conch
restaurant in West Bay.
Cayman Taffy Company has moved way beyond
the saltwater taffy that was its foundation almost five years ago and now
offers a whole host of sweet and tantalisingly tasty treats that everyone will
enjoy this Christmas.
Napa travel info
November 3, 2010 The Napa Valley is a name derived from
the language of the area’s Native Wappo Indians and means the land of the
plenty; Napa has meant a place of natural abundance for centuries.
A truffle delight
November 3, 2010 A much anticipated white truffle dinner,
the second of its kind, was held last month at the Cracked Conch in West Bay.More than 80 diners indulged in the annual
sumptuous seven-course truffle dinner which featured wines from Beni Di
Batasiolo in Piedmont in northern Italy.
Earlier this year The Brasserie’s Executive Chef, Dean
James Max, was invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York City. The team assembled by Chef Max included The
Brasserie’s Chef de Cuisine Brad Phillips.
The dates are now set for the Cayman Culinary Society’s
annual culinary competition, the 20th year of this exceptional showcase of
Cayman’s culinary skills when the islands’ top industry professionals will be
on hand to test their ability in this gastronomic showdown.
The Reds
September 1, 2010 One of the first “Super Tuscans, Tignanello is meant to last although
can be enjoyed while young too. The 2004 Tignanello (85 per cent
Sangiovese, 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 per cent Cabernet
Franc) presents a livelier shade of ruby along with fresher aromatics
and flavors.
The Whites
September 1, 2010 Terre Alte is a blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco, and Sauvignon. The
Terre Alte has a vibrant straw yellow color with golden yellow
highlights. It has an extraordinary nose that is elegant, complex, broad
and pervasive with hints of ripe tropical fruit, citrus, walnut and
sweet almond.
Erno Virag has been working at Ragazzi since he first came to Cayman
eleven years ago, first as a waiter and then manager of the restaurant.
Having helped his grandfather cultivate his own grapes and make wine
(for home consumption only) in his native Hungary, Erno...
I always feel that September in Cayman is more like January in that
it’s a time of renewal – when everyone returns back on island after long
summer breaks, when kids finally go back to school and old friendships
are reaffirmed
Jamaica is known for jerk, a centuries-old method of slow cooking meats
using tropical woods and seasonings. Although the jerk phenomenon has
spread to many other places in the world, you still can’t get authentic
jerk anywhere but Jamaica.
With the news recently announced that Argentina has overtaken Chile
in terms of exports to the US, Blackbeard’s and The Journal have teamed
up to appreciate just why Argentina makes such great wines, savouring
some well-priced yet high quality wines from that country.
One of the most popular wine dinners of the year took place at the
beginning of the summer at Edoardo’s restaurant hosted by Blackbeard’s, a
fun-packed but forehead furrowing test of diners’ wine knowledge.
Vermentino Belguardo Mazzei Tuscany Italy - This is a white varietal solely found in Italy, producing a floral and perfumed wine showing notes of green apple and citrus peel, with a tamed acidity that makes it a perfect aperitif or a great seafood companion.
Only when you arrive will you appreciate how the drive up to North West
Point in West Bay is so worth those few extra miles further than you
might normally travel. Overlooking the majestic twinkling blue Caribbean
Sea, the Cracked Conch is blessed by a location that is second-to-none
and it will make a ...
Bordeaux is a classic wine region of France, producing some of the
greatest wines ever made with a mighty blend of classic Bordeaux grapes.
Since France first invented such a miraculous blending, wine producing
regions around the world have jumped on the Bordeux-blend band wagon
Jacques Scott launched the latest addition to its stable with a well-attended networking event at Hemingways, Grand Cayman Beach Suites and Journalist Joe Shooman was there to get the details.
Although Chef Ken Vedrinski, owner of Trattoria Lucca in Charleston,
South Carolina, (and developer of a brand new restaurant called
Ristorante Introdacqua slated to open next year), was born and raised in
Columbus, Ohio, it is to his native Italian roots via his Abbruzzese
grandmother that he turns when creating his own unique cuisine.
North Coast California vintners have been looking to cut costs any way they can for the past two years, with bottle closures and other production consumables such as other packaging and barrels also coming under scrutiny.
The Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rotisseurs is a culinary society that
has a far-reaching appeal across the world, joining like-minded
individuals who simply love good food and wine together in friendship
and conviviality. The Cayman Chapter is a thriving ...
Perfect pairing wines to suit all tastes. Welcome to a brand new
column that showcases Cayman’s sommeliers and their favourite picks for
the month. We begin with Kyle Kennedy, Sommelier at the Brasserie
restaurant.
Cabernet Sauvignon is often considered the king of the reds, an
incredibly versatile varietal that does well all over the world, from
France to Australia, Chile to California, a mighty tannic warrior that
benefits from the softening blend of Merlot and others in Bordeaux as
well as Syrah and other grapes elsewhere in the world.
Blackbeard’s took their trademark relaxed, laid-back dining
experiences to the next level at their latest wine dinner held at
Morgan’s Harbour. Aptly named ‘Celebrating Island Life Dinner’, guests
were able to soak up this marvelous location perched on the very edge of
the ocean, along with some delicious Caribbean dishes and cocktails and
wines to match.
British Airways is launching a private jet service within North America
and the Caribbean, joining forces with CitationAir, the private jet
charter subsidiary of Cessna Aircraft, offering a low priced private jet
service.
Tortuga Five Year Old Rum received the highest level awarded, the title of ‘Master’ in the Gold Less than Seven Years category. Tortuga Twelve Year Old Rum received Gold in the Gold Eight to 12 Year category.
Don’t miss the annual Taste of Chicago which runs from 25 June until 4
July, an entertainment and gastronomic extravaganza taking place at
Grant Park.
Half of Sonoma County’s vineyards soon could come under quarantine due to the European grapevine moth, a pest that infests the Napa Valley which has now also been found in six other counties, most recently Merced.
Two recent medical studies have linked the moderate consumption of wine to a lower incidence of the development of type 2 diabetes. One of the studies, to be published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, saw a team of researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands analysing the issue by looking at data drawn from the Dutch European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-NL), a larger health study of more than 520,000 people in 10 European countries.
California’s Napa County wineries were recently granted an easing to the strict rules which apply on how they market their wines when the Napa County Board of Supervisors last month voted to approve changes to the authoritative Winery Definition Ordinance, giving wineries explicit permission to host corporate events and pair wine with food.
The gracious and welcoming presence of Ristorante Papagallo awaits those who visit West Bay’s Barker’s area, an oasis of fine Italian dining nestled among the most peaceful and serene setting of wetlands on Cayman’s coastline.
Having conducted wine lunches with Jacques Scott’s team of wine professionals every month for around half a decade, we have managed to eat and drink our way through most of Cayman’s top restaurants over the years.
Approaching this article I have to admit I was going in pretty cold, my knowledge of South African wines limited to the enjoyment of a couple of good wines from Stellenbosch and that was about it. Thankfully Blackbeard’s Jeremy Corday, their new wine specialist/sommelier and supervisor of Blackbeard’s Direct delivery service was on hand to demystify this most exciting of wine regions with his superlative knowledge and clear passion for the region.
The spicy plummy notes of six versions of the noble Merlot grape
wafted through the air at Abacus recently as the intrepid Jacques
Scott/Journal team explored all its fruity nuances. Business Editor
Lindsey Turnbull reports.
Stepping up the levels of culinary brilliance on island a notch or
two, The Brasserie is consistently delighting guests with its emphasis
on the very freshest ingredients often plucked straight from the sea or
garden just hours before service...
Vive la Veuve!
April 7, 2010 My wife, a Champagne aficionado, believes bubbly goes well with just
about any food writes Alan Markoff.
Wine enthusiasts and Italianophiles got a real treat last month with
an Italian feast that transported diners straight to the heart of
Italy’s Piedmont district, home to ‘King’ Barolo and ‘Queen’ Barbaresco
wines.
On the latest news from the world of wine.
The Journal and Jacques Scott continue the popular series dissecting
wine varietals to see just how they differ when produced in different
parts of the world. How can wine made from the same grape taste so
different?
After years of hard work and dedication the Cayman Islands National
Museum can now truly say that it is now 100 per cent open for business.
The Journal has the real insight as to what it takes to be a culinary
winner. Nerves, excitement, sheer terror and utter relief.
A launch party at The Brick House introduced Tres Rios Tequila, a
Vince Neil Selection to the Cayman Islands. Rock band Motley Crue
frontman Vince Neil,
One of the biggest names in wine making in both its native Burgundy
and latterly in Oregon, the House of Drouhin has made spectacularly good
wines for over a century.
The Brasserie opened its doors to its brand new Market earlier this
year, a brilliant café open for breakfast and lunch and geared for ...
A burning desire to own a vineyard since university days had attorney
Grant Stein see the dream turn to reality in 1998 with the purchase of
around 175 acres
Jacques Scott and Business Editor Lindsey Turnbull once again join
forces to dissect a particular varietal and this month dispel the myth
that the noble Riesling grape is nothing more than sweet plonk, by
testing five different wines from ...
A dazzling array of culinary expertise was on show at this year’s Cayman
Cookout held at The Ritz-Carlton. Read all about a very special tasting
of 1982 Bordeaux wines, a presentation by famed French winemaker
Laurent Drouhin and much more in next month’s Journal.
Cayman Cookout 2010 is upon us and builds on the debut to provide a
series of compelling events in the company of the world’s greatest
chefs and the most sophisticated wine palates on the planet. Journal
journalist Joe Shooman reports.
For fish and seafood lovers the recent wine dinner at Hemingways was a
real treat, with course after course of exquisitely presented and
expertly created fish dishes that certainly affirmed the restaurant as
one of Cayman’s best, with a menu inspired by author Ernest Hemingway’s
Old Man and the Sea.
Renata Kecskes from Grand Cayman Beach Suites won Bartender of the
Year at last year’s Culinary Awards for Excellence. The Journal catches
up with Renata to hear about her story
Jacques Scott and the Journal make their annual homage to the Christmas season with a fresh look at some wonderful wines for you to enjoy along with the all-important festive spread. Business Editor, Lindsey Turnbull reports.
Changes in climate in recent years mean that new wine regions are gradually emerging all over the world, in places we might never have imagined possible to produce wine just a few years ago
A truffle treat
December 3, 2009 Truffles are considered the most decadent of foods because their scarcity obviously increases their cost, and white Alba truffles from northern Italy are among the rarest. Journal journalist Norma Connolly enjoyed the delights of this most precious culinary delight and reports.
The Cayman Islands Culinary Society recently held its annual Culinary Awards of Excellence Competition at The Ritz-Carlton with Bacchus chef Indika Kumara taking award the Chef of the Year award and Bamboo/Beach Suites Renata Kecskes winning Bartender of the Year. Business Editor Lindsey Turnbull reports.