Three young Caymanians have been named as winners of the 2025 Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Cayman Islands competition, held on 2-4 Sept. at Hotel Indigo.
Kristofer Mason (Young Chef), Reyah Carrazana (Young Waiter) and Kody Wright (Young Mixologist), who has won the title for a second time in a row, emerged as winners of the three-day event. The competition brought together Cayman’s brightest young culinary and hospitality talent, with a total of nine contestants showcasing their skills using local produce and agricultural products.
The 2025 winners will now go on to represent the Cayman Islands at the Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist World Finals in the United Kingdom, competing against global peers for international recognition.
The other 2025 finalists included chefs Leila Dixon and Brittney Bodden, waiters Estefania McDermot and Daniel Ancel, and mixologists George Sinclair and Julius Parsons.
Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by local farmers and hospitality partners, contestants were provided a ‘chef’s larder’ filled with premium local ingredients, aligning with the Cayman Islands Food and Nutrition Security Policy. The competition reinforced the government’s vision of linking agriculture to tourism and food security.
A new generation of culinary talent
Robert Walton, founder of the Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Cayman Islands competition, told Compass TV he is incredibly impressed with the talent on island.
“This is all about finding the new generation of hospitality stars for the Cayman Islands, in young Caymanians and I love that concept. It’s all about the future and being sustainable – not just in produce but in people. We need young Caymanians to be here to open restaurants in the future,” he said.
The key is to encourage opportunities, he added.
“Hospitality is exciting, dynamic, creative and rewarding. There’s a community. It’s not about that job that you used to do years ago. Now, people want to work in hospitality. Things are so different from what it used to be. It would be wonderful to see young Caymanians of today given opportunities in competitions like this,” Walton said.
Yann Gillet, new area general manager for Hotel Indigo and Kimpton Seafire, said, “It was very important for us as we want to become not only the preferred hospitality business for Cayman as guests, but we also want to be the preferred employer for young hoteliers. So, we felt it was important to showcase and tell all the young Caymanians that having an international career can lead to success. We want to be synonymous to education and to growth.”
Chef Massimo De Francesca, area executive chef, said it was a pleasure to host the fourth annual event.
“It’s such an important event and important platform to have this event, showcasing the talent locally and internationally. It’s bringing international persons’ awareness to the island in the hospitality, tourism, and culinary food and beverage industry,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young talent to showcase what they’ve got, using local produce and bringing it all together.”
Minister of Agriculture Jay Ebanks congratulated all participants, noting the competition demonstrates the power of agriculture and hospitality working hand in hand.
“By placing Cayman’s locally grown produce at the centre of world-class culinary innovation, we are building pride in our food systems and encouraging the next generation of Caymanians to grow, serve and showcase the very best of Cayman,” Ebanks said.
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