Photo: Photo: Stephen Clarke
January is the most delectable month in the calendar, with a host of special events involving rich and varied foods, wines and good times. Yes, folks, it’s Culinary Month and an opportunity for the Cayman Islands to show off its range of skill, ingredients, food, drink and hospitality. The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean is growing in status every day and given the range of events on offer it’s easy to see why people come from far and wide to experience the epicurean delights this two-by-four island can offer.
Culinary Month Breezes by the Bay Rhum Filled Adventure
6 January, 2011
Breezes by the Bay
6pm to 9pm
It all kicks off with an adventure through rum in the centre of George Town; Breezes is engaging this most Caribbean of ingredients in all kinds of inventive and delicious ways, says Steven Hayes of Breezes.
“Breezes is a fun and energetic kind of place; we’ve done functions with Appleton’s master blender and that type of thing and we will be making it fun and exciting for Culinary Month.”
There will be different styles of mojitos, tutorials on how to muddle, limes, sugars and more, he added.
“Everyone has their different take on the mojito, such as our take on the dark & stormy, featuring ginger beer and Gosling’s rum; there’s likely to be Brazilian mojitos with Cachaca, other flavours including a refreshing raspberry mojito and much more.
“As for appetisers in the past we’ve done rum cakes, bread pudding with rum, and infused desserts with rum - there will be lots of different things. We’re the first event and want to start the month off with the exciting, adventurous fun that we’re all about,” says Steven.
Culinary Month Caribbean Food & Art Festival
7, 8 & 9 January
Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
6pm to 10pm
Cost: $30
Join the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort at Balboa for a feast for the eyes as well as the palate while enjoying the work of local artist Al Ebanks. Executive Chef Anthony Le Pape will create a menu from local ingredients to showcase Cayman’s skills with food, as well as the inspirational art of a talented local legend, both inside and al fresco, says Nicolas Marzioni of the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort.
“We are going to link the art of Al Ebanks with Anthony’s food; he’ll be using all local protein, fresh tuna, black snapper, conch from Cayman and trying to mix it up into the local tradition.
“The culinary experience will be hors d’oeuvres so people can enjoy the presentation whilst they are eating, we’ll be giving a glass of sparkling wine. It’s a tasting of cuisine made of local produce interpreted in a modern way,” says Nicolas.
Culinary Month Cayman Cookout
14 to 16 January
Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Culinary Month Lionfish Hunt & Cookout
20 and 27 January
Cobalt Coast Dive Resort/Divetech
1pm
Cost: $71.50
Join Cobalt Coast and DiveTech as they combine the Cayman’s premier sport with a tasty cookout. Divers are invited to be a part of an educational briefing about lionfish, a one-tank dive to catch lionfish, a cooking demonstration and the tasting of lionfish appetisers paired with Sauvignon Blanc. Not only will attendees get to scuba dive and experience an exotic tasty dinner, but they will also be involved in a valuable environmental project that helps to remove an invasive species from Cayman’s waters. Participants must be open-water certified scuba divers to participate.
Culinary Month CITA 3rd Annual Charity Wine Dinner & Auction
20 January
Ortanique, Camana Bay
7pm for Welcome Wine
Cost: $195
The Charity Wine Dinner will be held at the new Ortanique restaurant in Camana Bay and will feature the wines of PlumpJack and Cade wineries of Napa Valley and Howell Mountain. This exceptional wine pairing experience is a great way to enjoy the cooking of celebrity chef Cindy Hutson. Silent and live auction items will be available for bidding at the end of the dinner, with all proceeds going to support the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and their charitable efforts here. The event is sponsored by Blackbeard’s Fine Wines and Spirits.
Culinary Month Rumday Afternoon
22 January
Rum Point - afternoon
Mixology competition and auction... not to be missed
Culinary Month Infusion Dinner
22 January
Rum Point 6pm to 10pm
Cost $100
The ferry leaves Safehaven Dock at 6pm, returns approximately 11pm
Set sail with Red Sail in this exciting rum-soaked event at the Rum Point Restaurant. Participants will enjoy a feast of flavours that features the signature drink of the Caribbean – rum, supplied by Jacques Scott. It’s restricted to 60 people and features a free ferry ride on the catamaran from Safehaven.
“It’s a four-course dinner and each course is either made with, or complemented with, rum. If the chef is cooking with rum it’ll be paired with wines,” explains Carol Boulton of Red Sail.
Culinary Month Taste of Sparkling Elusion
29 January 4pm to 6pm
On board the Cayman Elusion
Cost: $105 per person, maximum 14 adults
Imagine the most exclusive way to experience the Taste of Cayman - on board your own private luxury yacht with what could well be the ultimate pre-party package. Tickets to the main event are included in the price, too.
Jane Van der Bol says that people will be escorted from Camana Bay’s Taste of Cayman gate to the dock for pickup and that the two hour cruise features unlimited sparkling wine and light snacks.
“We’ll catch a little of the sunset as we come back in at 6pm when Taste of Cayman will be in swing so you will arrive like a VIP on your yacht behind the island. There’s then three hours to experience Taste of Cayman.
“One of the things that Taste offers not only visitors to Cayman is that it gives locals the opportunity to experience the different restaurants and different flavours on the Island. For the entry fee you get all the flavours and sights as you’re walking around which is very exciting.”
Culinary Month Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival
29 January
Camana Bay Waterfront
5pm-midnight
Cost: $30 for adults ($40 at the gate), $15 for kids ages 6 to 12, ages 5 and under are free.
For 23 years, Taste of Cayman has showcased the culinary excellence of the islands. The sights, sounds, smells and tastes are wonderful in themselves and with the Camana Bay site developing year on year it’s going to be as interesting as ever with a definite waterfront theme, as is only appropriate for this jewel island.
As with 2009, there will be a VIP champagne garden with top shelf bar and champagne from Veuve Clicquot at Cassia Court. The exclusive-feeling lounge is open to all and features fine foods and spirits.
The best mojitos outside Cuba are promised at the Mojito Lounge, or you might prefer to lounge in the hammock at the beach whilst watching the main festivities at the Crescent stage.
For the younger ones there’s a kids’ corner, featuring face painting, balloon animals, magic shows, crafts and fun foods. The Hangout, with its breakdancing, Wii, XGames and more will provide entertainment for the whole family.
Look out, too, for the judging of the heavy cake competition - for details on how to enter please contact the organisers, Cayman Islands Tourism Association.
Grand prize
Don’t forget the grand raffle prize - a trip for two to Chile, with six nights’ stay at the Marriott Santiago resort in the Las Condes district with easy access to all of Santiago and minutes from popular ski centres. Recognised as the 2010 Expedia Insider’s Select Hotel, the Marriott is among the best hotels in Santiago. Enjoy a wine tour, dinner and $500 spending money, too.
“This year’s Taste of Cayman grand prize reflects the true essence of Cayman Islands Culinary Month which celebrates all of the epicurious delights that the Cayman Islands has to offer as a Culinary Destination. The Cayman Islands is a true delight to the Culinary Traveller so it seemed fitting to have a Grand Prize that incorporates food, wine and adventure!,” says Erin Bodden of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, who are behind the idea of Culinary Month which grew from Taste of Cayman.
“The month aims to bring our culinary industry to the attention of the world through creating not just one but many first class events throughout the month giving their members and other local businesses the opportunity to host unique and creative CITA endorsed events that will ultimately draw people from around the globe to experience world-class food and wine. All this in the stunning setting of the Cayman Islands. We have a wide variety of events to fit the most discerning palate and a variety of pockets,” says Erin.
Taste of Cayman sponsors include Blackbeards, Cayman Airways, Caymanian Compass, Department of Tourism, Kiss FM, Massive Equipment Rental and Camana Bay. For more information call CITA on 949 8522 or visit tasteofcayman.org and caycompass.com