The annual Taste of Cayman, back this weekend for the first time since 2019, usually delivers exactly what its name suggests – a taste of the best food and beverages Cayman has to offer.
There’s also going to be an international flavour to Saturday’s festival, with 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, showing off their culinary talents alongside Cayman’s finest.
On the musical front, Canadian tribute act Material Girls will be belting out tunes by some of the world’s leading songstress divas.
Jay Ehrhart, executive director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, said the addition of the two celebrity chefs to this year’s event “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.”
Musical acts
While the festival’s food stalls will cater to the attendees’ taste buds and stomachs, there will also be a feast for the ears later in the day with Material Girls, who will be embodying the personas of Madonna, Cher, Adele and Lady Gaga. Also performing will be three of Cayman’s popular musical talents – The Fabulous 68’s, Dan Ebanks and DJ Rion Kirk.
Ehrhart says Material Girls are the perfect addition to this year’s festival.
“In years past, we’ve had some incredible live performances, and this year is no exception. These four diva tribute performances just confirm how epic of an event we’re planning for Taste of Cayman’s grand return. I’m extremely excited to hear the fantastic songs they’ll be performing – and I’m sure the crowd will too,” he said.
Music kicks off at the main stage at 7:30pm, and Material Girls are expected to begin performing at 10pm.
There will also be a celebration of Cayman’s youth and culture through song and dance at the All Things Cayman area, where CayPop, Phoenix Singh, Red Bay Primary School, Cayman Youth Choir, Dreamchasers Cayman, and the Cayman Island Folk Singers will be performing.
Demonstrations
Throughout the day, 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.
Going digital
For the first time, this year’s Taste won’t involve the purchasing of paper chits or vouchers to exchange for food and drinks at the various stalls. Instead, attendees will be given a wristband on which they can load up on their ‘digital festival currency’.
The wristbands are pre-loaded with food and beverage credit, and you can check your balance, or quickly top-up additional credit, at multiple, designated top-up stations around the Festival Green.
Once you purchase your event ticket online, or at a ticket outlet or on the day at the entrance, you exchange it for a wristband at the gate when you arrive at Taste.
Adult general admission means your wristband will be pre-loaded with 12 food and drink tickets; a child’s ticket includes five food and drink tickets. Each ticket is equivalent to $1.
You can add credit to your wristband throughout the evening with cash or a credit card at top-up ticket booths, at which you can also check your balance at any time. You can also sync your wristband to your mobile device by visiting the Event Pro trailer which will guide you through the process.
There are no refunds for any remaining food and beverage credit left on your wristband at the end of the event so be sure to spend it all.
Organisers say lost wristbands cannot be replaced.
Anyone having issues with their wristbands can seek help from ‘Ask Me’ volunteers who can be found around the grounds, or visit the EventPro trailer.
To help people learn more about using the wristbands, organisers have launched a simple tutorial webpage.
What you get for your ticket
General admission costs $60, and includes access to all of the restaurants, bars and entertainment such as the Main Stage; the CUC seating area; the Bon Vivant Demonstration Stage; Kids Zone; the CG BritCay Photo Booth; the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage All Things Cayman area; the Seven Fathoms Mixology Competition; and fireworks.
VIP admission costs $225 and includes 25 food and drink tickets for adults and 12 for children. Access includes all of the benefits of general admission plus unlimited access to the AI Rentals VIP Hospitality Lounge featuring its own VIP bar and complimentary welcome drinks and canapes hosted by Saint June at The Ritz-Carlton; priority parking; express entry; VIP bathrooms; one free experience in the Experience Room; and an exclusive main stage viewing area.
35th anniversary
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 for the first time since 2019, 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.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.tasteofcayman.org.
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