After the last petit four had been savoured and the final glass of Champagne sipped, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman officially celebrated the end of its 15th Cayman Cookout, hosted by Chef Eric Ripert, on 14 Jan.
The multi-day festival – which saw everything from ‘Alice in Wonderland’-inspired croquet on perfectly manicured greens to celebrity chefs frolicking in the warm Caribbean surf – welcomed hundreds of foodies to mingle and indulge in culinary delights.
One of the major themes throughout the long weekend focused on supporting local farmers, buying local produce and celebrating all things local to Cayman. Visiting chefs championed the idea, which encouraged international guests to get on board as well.
Just as in previous Cayman Cookouts, there were presentations on Seven Mile Beach given by industry experts and bombastic personalities (see: José Andrés); intimate dinners featuring flavours from far-flung exotic locales; brunches, BBQs, and fierce cooking and Pétanque competitions… but all in good humour, of course.
With Cookout marking a milestone anniversary, there were even more events on the calendar this year, with headlining talent perfectly game to take part in unique experiences. World-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm led guests on a bicycle ride from Seven Mile to Rum Point, while Chef Emeril Lagasse hosted a group on a deep-sea fishing charter.
Some ticket holders joined Ripert and Terry Peabody of Craggy Range Winery on a private jet to GoldenEye in Jamaica for a sumptuous lunch (as you do), while Chef Andrew Zimmern waxed lyrical about the heady days of consuming cow cod and other memorable treats in front of a captive audience. Chef Pano I. Karatassos danced to Greek tunes along the floor of Andiamo restaurant; Chefs Philippe Haddad and Bernard Guillas went mano a mano at the Bon Vivant Competition Brunch; and much tequila was imbibed at the Clase Azul lunch, where diners were serenaded by locally-revered guitarist Glen Scott.
Speaking of serenades, none other than the award-winning Goo Goo Dolls took to the stage on the night of 13 Jan., with local band Goodnight Hannah opening the evening in spectacular style. What better way to celebrate 15 years of Cayman Cookout success than with a chart-topping band playing their hits under a blanket of stars?
There is no question that this year’s festival can be considered a great success, and people are already talking about 2025. Until then, time to get back into the gym and hide the bathroom scales for a while…
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