January 23, 2014 09:41 | Source: Cayman Shores Development

CAMANA BAY, Grand Cayman, Jan. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This past weekend, Grand Cayman celebrated the sixth annual Cayman Cookout as hundreds of culinary enthusiasts from across the globe flocked to the island for a celebration of food and wine featuring some of the most respected chefs in the world.

During the three-day event, Camana Bay welcomed festival host Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain and approximately 300 attendees to a special presentation called “Taming the Lionfish,” which celebrated the success of divers and chefs who have banded together to protect Cayman’s reefs from lionfish, an invasive fish that is killing native marine species. Anthony Bourdain spoke about the ongoing ecological disaster caused by the fierce but delicious fish while Michael Schwartz and Thomas Tennant of Michael’s Genuine® Food & Drink demonstrated how to carefully clean and artfully prepare lionfish.

The following Dinner Party at Camana Bay, one of the highlights of Cayman Cookout, brought several well-known chefs to the town’s signature restaurants to partner with local chefs. Quebec’s “wild chef” Martin Picard appeared at Abacus; Daniel Boulud brought French flair to Mizu; and Rick Bayless united with Cindy Hutson at Ortanique. Cayman Cookout headline chef Michael Schwartz presented lionfish as well as signature dishes at Michael’s Genuine® Food & Drink.

“Camana Bay was thrilled to host one of Cayman Cookout’s marquee events to showcase the thriving culinary scene at Camana Bay and educate guests on the island’s ‘eat them to beat them’ lionfish initiative,” said Jackie Doak, Chief Operating Officer for Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd., the developer behind Camana Bay. “We are honored to be a part of such prominent culinary events like Cayman Cookout, Taste of Cayman and Slow Food Day, which promote the growing epicurean scene on Grand Cayman.”

The town of Camana Bay will host two more culinary events that will showcase Camana Bay’s acclaimed restaurants, chefs and the best of the dynamic local food scene, and reinforce Grand Cayman’s position as the epicurean hub of the Caribbean.

Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival: On Feb. 8, Camana Bay will take center stage again with Taste of Cayman. One of the largest culinary festivals in the Caribbean, Taste of Cayman will prominently exhibit the best of modern and traditional Cayman fare in a fun festival atmosphere. This year, more than 40 restaurants will compete for the coveted “Best Of” awards, as well as a heavy cake competition and a “mix off” cocktail competition.

Slow Food Day: Camana Bay will host Slow Food Day, a daylong celebration of the Cayman Islands’ farmers and fishermen, in conjunction with James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine® Food & Drink on April 12. The third annual Slow Food Day will bring the culinary community together in a celebration of eating locally and sourcing sustainably. Food tastings with locally sourced ingredients will take place throughout the day, and the event will conclude with a special dinner highlighting the best of Cayman cuisine from the restaurants of Camana Bay.

Camana Bay actively participates in Grand Cayman’s burgeoning culinary community. In 2013, Camana Bay welcomed three new restaurants — Mizu, Upper Crust and The Waterfront, as well as West Indies Wine Company — to its diverse group of cafes, bars, organic markets and specialty shops.

For more information on upcoming happenings at Camana Bay, visit: camanabay.com/events.

ABOUT CAMANA BAY

A destination within a destination, Camana Bay is a vibrant town located in the heart of Grand Cayman. Stretching 500 acres from the famous Seven Mile Beach to the tranquil North Sound, this mixed-use master planned community opened in December 2007 and is one of the first examples of New Urbanism in the Caribbean. Developed by Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. in collaboration with an award-winning team of visionaries, including Duany Plater-Zyberk (Seaside and Rosemary Beach, Fla.), Moore Ruble Yudell and OLIN Partnership, Camana Bay offers a unique mix of thoughtfully designed residential, commercial and public spaces, world-class shopping and dining, education and sports facilities plus family-friendly entertainment, events and attractions.

For more information on Camana Bay visit camanabay.com, like Camana Bay Fan Page on Facebook or follow Camana Bay on Twitte