If you are thinking about a destination wedding or honeymoon to the Caribbean and you love great food then you need to consider planning your trip to the Cayman Islands. With over 200 restaurants and a reputation as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands has plenty on offer for die-hard foodies and dedicated oenophiles. But its annual food festival, Cayman Cookout, is the jewel in their culinary crown, offering visitors a chance to rub shoulders with some of the world’s greatest chefs while partaking in a four-day weekend filled with events including tastings, intimate beachside demonstrations, wine seminars and unique excursions hosted by the world’s best chefs. The event, conceived by the legendary Michelin-starred chef, Eric Ripert, of the famed Le Bernardin in New York, is slated for January 12-15, 2017 at the cosmopolitan Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, also home of his acclaimed Caribbean restaurant, Blue.
Once again, Ripert will be joined by a line-up of culinary all-stars including his closest friends, Anthony Bourdain and José Andrés, and featuring guest chefs Emeril Lagasse, Daniel Humm, Roland Passot, Terrance Brennan, Tim Love and Christina Tosi of MasterChef fame, among others. Famed mixologists Charles Joly and Bob Peters also headline the event, which for the last eight years has been hosted in partnership with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and FOOD & WINE magazine.
Cayman Cookout’s tell-all beach chat with Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain is a fan favourite. Escape to crystal clear turquoise waters and sink your toes into the sugar-white sand of Seven Mile Beach for events that will include: a tell-all kitchen confidential with chefs Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain; a traditional paella prep session on the beach with the master of entertaining, José Andrés; a reserve tasting from New Zealand winery Craggy Range aboard a private jet to Cayman Brac; a barefoot BBQ event featuring dessert creations from chef Christina Tosi; the Bon Vivant brunch featuring a live cook-off contest among local chefs judged by Ripert, Bourdain, Andrés and Lagasse; a gala grand finale seven-course dinner and much more.
“Cayman Cookout is an event that continues to draw the world’s culinary heroes to our shores to highlight their incredible talents while simultaneously shining the light on our culture, food and the local talent that populates the diverse restaurant scene across our three islands,” said Mrs. Rosa Harris, director of tourism for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. “We are excited to once again welcome food and wine lovers from around the globe to this spectacular culinary event.”
To book tickets and learn more about Cayman Cookout, taking place January 12-15, 2017, visit www.caymanislands.ky/cookout
Photo: David and Melissa Wolfe