Tickets for the Cayman Cookout 2012, billed as the Caribbean’s premier epicurean event, go on sale on Saturday, 1 October, but only for American Express card holders.
Those without an American Express card will have to wait until 15 October to buy tickets for events at the four-day Cookout, which runs Thursday, 12 January, through Sunday, 15 January, 2012. Tickets can be purchased at Bon Vivant, currently at Governors Square, but set to move to Camana Bay later this year.
The 2012 event will feature appearances from previous years’ favourites – like Eric Ripert, Jose Andres and Anthony Bourdain – plus first-time appearances from some of the top names in the culinary world, such as Ferran Adria, April Bloomfield and Paul Rogalski, the co-creator of the acclaimed Rouge Restaurant in Calgary who used to live on Grand Cayman and work as a chef at Hemmingway’s.
Wines featured in Cayman Cookout 2012 events include Tuscany’s Sassicaia; Napa Valley’s Silver Oak; Sonoma Valley’s Vérité; Washington State’s Columbia Valley’s Chateau Ste. Michelle; and France’s Moët & Chandon champagne.
Culinary capital
Acting Director of Tourism Shomari Scott said the Cayman Cookout 2012 would drive visitation in January and also perpetuate the Cayman Islands’ reputation as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
“The roster of participating chefs is incomparable and its prestige has been driving intense demand leading up to the tickets-on-sale date,” he said. “The culinary events and wine tastings integrate leading global trends featuring blue chip brands, with Caymanian cooking traditions and products making the event equally appealing for a local audience as well as international travellers. And, finally, the Cayman Cook-Off has become a highlight of the festival and a showcase for our own amateur top chefs.”
Some of the other highlights of Cayman Cookout 2012 include: the Tour de France Charity wine auction dinner; the Barefoot BBQ with Ripert, Bourdain and Andres manning the grill; a night dedicated to a dine-around at Camana Bay restaurants; the Bon Vivant Champagne Brunch and Cayman Cook-Off; and the Cayman Cookout Gala Dinner closing out the festival.
Bon Vivant’s Cynthia Hew said she was extremely excited to be involved with the Cayman Cookout again.
“We feel there are such strong synergies with what we do and with what the Cookout offers,” she said. “We’re thrilled to be associated with an event of this calibre and we’re looking forward to another year.”
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