Culinary Month is no more

For the last three years, a multitude of events including Taste of Cayman, Cayman Cookout and independent wine and food dinners have taken place during January. 

This was an initiative designed by the public and private sector to draw attention to the restaurants and bars of the Cayman Islands, and marketed internationally as Culinary Month. 

However, as of 2013 that umbrella initiative will no longer be happening, said Shomari Scott, director of tourism. 

“The Cayman Islands is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, with over 150 restaurants and delicious food-themed events offered throughout the year,” Mr. Scott said. “In order to focus on the breadth of culinary offerings all year long, the Department of Tourism and Cayman Islands Tourism Association has discontinued the singular focus of Culinary Month.” 

He said that in place of the initiative, Cayman will be promoted as the region’s culinary capital, which would highlight “the numerous culinary events running throughout the year as opposed to having one single month [or] event”. 

Target market 

The intent is to establish the Cayman Islands as a culinary destination and entice its target market throughout the year rather than just in January, Mr. Scott said. 

“Individuals who consider culinary offerings when choosing their vacation destinations tend to be in the more affluent range, which is directly in line with some of the Cayman Islands’ target audiences,” he said. “Promoting a Culinary Month helped us to jump start our reputation as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. Now that the reputation has been solidified, we can further promote the destination by highlighting the year-round events that will appeal to this market.”  

Some of the events which will take place, said Jane van der Bol of the private sector Cayman Islands Tourism Association, include wine dinners with BlackBeard’s, Mojito Nights at Breezes by the Bay, Farm-to-table at Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink, culinary contests and events in the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. 

“With incredible events like Cayman Cookout, Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s Taste of Cayman and the association’s wine dinner all happening in the first two months of the year, we think it is only right to support the many other incredible culinary events that happen in the Cayman Islands throughout the year,” she said. 

She also confirmed that Taste of Cayman is not affected by this shift in focus. It’s scheduled to take place on Saturday, 26 January at Camana Bay’s Festival Green. 

Another anchor culinary event, the star-studded Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman-led, Eric Ripert-hosted Cayman Cookout, will be going ahead from 17 to 20 January, organisers said.