Chef Jeff Mauro, host of the Food Network’s Emmy-nominated show Sandwich King, and Chef Tre Sanderson, winner of season 10 of Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, will be among the culinary talents at this year’s Taste of Cayman, organisers have announced.
Jay Ehrhart, executive director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, said in a press release that the addition of the two celebrity chefs “would round out the already talent-packed festival”, which takes place on 13 May on the Festival Green at Camana Bay.
“Chef Jeff will host an exciting demonstration in the Experience Room and Chef Tre will be at the Bon Vivant Demo Stage cooking against his friend, turned festival rival, the Fire Master himself, Dylan Benoit,” Ehrhart said.
“We’ve had overwhelming interest and positive responses from our restaurant community and local talent whose presence will further elevate our designation as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.”
Local chefs who will be giving demonstrations at the festival’s Experience Room and Bon Vivant Demo Stage are Young Cayman Chef 2022 winner Brittney Bodden, Jessica Moore of Taste This Life, in-house chef at the governor’s residence Mark Lea, Bestlife’s and Zest’s Maureen Cubbon, owner of Smokies BBQ Sara Mair-Doak and mixologist Maya Grant of Fusion Mixology.
More than 30 food-and-drink vendors will showcase at Taste of Cayman 2023, from veteran participants Cimboco and The Beach House at The Westin, to first-timers The Edgy Vedge and Pane & Pasta. Cayman beverage brands Tortuga, Cayman Spirits and Jacques Scott will provide drinks through various outlets.
In addition to food stalls, restaurants are taking their talents to other areas of the festival, such as Saint June at The Ritz-Carton, Grand Cayman – this year’s caterer for the AI Rentals VIP Section, and Anchor & Den at The Grand Cayman Marriott Resort – offering a cooking demonstration in the Experience Room.
Taste of Cayman celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The festival began in the late 80s with a small number of restaurants from the Cayman Islands Restaurant Association getting together in a field to compete in a chilli cook-off.
This year marks the return of the festival after a three-year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The absence of events like Taste in recent years has been felt throughout the tourism industry and particularly the restaurant sector, which is in part what makes this year’s return so incredible,” Ehrhart said.
He also welcomed the sponsorship of Visit Cayman Islands, saying, “We are thrilled to have Visit Cayman Islands as this year’s official presenter of Taste as it demonstrates the strength of our partnership locally and globally. More importantly, it allows for an increase in impactful opportunities to remind the world of the wonderful talent and experiences found in the Cayman Islands and opens the door to have the calibre of international chefs like Tre and Jeff participate in the festival.”
For a complete list of the 2023 participants and to buy tickets, visit www.tasteofcayman.org.
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