Ortanique restaurant opens

Cuisine of the sun is promised from
Ortanique, the latest restaurant to open at Camana Bay’s Crescent.

The eatery, which opens today
(Wednesday, 24 November), brings together diverse styles and ingredients,
according to executive chef Cindy Hutson. There will be a brunch on Sunday, 28
November, which will become a regular occurrence. It is intended that the
restaurant start to offer lunch menus in early December, said Ms Hutson.

The celebrity chef is joined by new
executive chef Sara Mair, a contestant on Top Chef, and co-owner Delius
Shirley.

Chef Hutson said that the Cayman
Islands is beginning to grow into its role as an island renowned for its food.

“Because Cayman is becoming such a
culinary destination [worldwide], local farmers are increasing what they have
that’s sustainable and are watchful of our waters here, [and] the seasons for
which fish that can be caught at which time.

“We love going to the market on
Saturday and we’re starting to see wonderful tomatoes, eggplant and okra, plus
here at Camana Bay the greenhouse will have an agricultural guy or girl so
we’ll be able to get our herbs. It’s really cool that everyone’s getting
involved in the production of what the chefs are requiring,” she said, adding
that dishes will include tropical seasonings and seasonal specials.

Top Ten Restaurant

The restaurant can hold 150 people
altogether – 75 inside and 75 outside – and features dockside dining plus a
walk-up Caribbean-slanted tapas bar for al fresco dining whilst kids play in
the nearby fountain, said Chef Hutson, who added that takeout will be
available.

Future plans include the
development of full moon hog-roasts on the island just in front of the restaurant
which are anticipated to begin in early 2011, plus Temptation Tuesdays, which
she said would feature half-price offers. There will also be interactive food
classes, which co-owner Delius Shirley said had already been a great success in
Miami.

“We do a full three-course menu and
each course is paired with a wine that is suitable. Have a driver because the
glass is bottomless and people do take advantage of it,” he said.

Since first working together in
1994, Mr. Shirley and Ms Hutson have successfully run several restaurants
throughout America, including Ortanique on the Mile which was named one of
Esquire Magazine’s Top Ten New Restaurants In America, with a wine list that
gathered great praise. Further restaurants in Las Vegas and Washington, DC,
followed, plus ventures in Baltimore and Destin, Florida.

“Because we’re perfectionists…
we will ease into all this slowly and not [implement all the ideas] until we’re
fully confident. That core menu of Ortanique will always be there, then we will
work around it bringing in seasonal vegetables and fish – it will be fun,” said
Chef Hutson.