For the second year in a row, Seven at the Ritz Carlton won the people’s choice award of Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant at Taste of Cayman Food and Drink Festival 2017, which was held at the Festival Green, Camana Bay on Saturday January 28^th.

Each festival goer was given a wooden token at the event to vote for their favourite restaurant, with the restaurant totalling the most votes winning the annual award. Seven at the Ritz Carlton received the most votes, retaining the title of Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant for the second year running.

The annual ‘Best Of’ awards were chosen by a panel of secret judges, who’s task it was to sample drinks and dishes at each of the vendor booths before making their choices based on aroma, taste, presentation and service.

Andiamo at the Ritz Carlton took the title of Best Food with their shrimp and leek ravioli. Jacques Scott won two awards at the festival, Best Booth and Best Drink. Their innovative Bulleit Bourbon trailer cart took the award for Best Booth, which in turn served the Best Drink, a Bulleit Bourbon whiskey cocktail served with candied bacon, named ‘Don’t Go Bacon My Heart’.

As well as winning Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant, Seven at the Ritz Carlton also took home the award for Best Dessert for their ‘C4 Sundae’, a warm brownie with chocolate fudge sauce, smoked Cayman sea salt and molten chocolate ice-cream.

“This year’s Taste of Cayman Food and Drink Festival saw an abundance of delicious food and drink, as well as beautifully decorated booths at the Festival Green. Whilst the judges had the enviable task of sampling from each vendor, it was no doubt a difficult decision with the huge variety on offer from the best restaurants and bars in Cayman,” Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks, Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) said.

“The array and quality of dishes and drinks on offer showed that CITA members pulled out all the stops on the night. Taste of Cayman truly brings together the flavours of our island, the culinary capital of the Caribbean.”

The Heavy Cake competition was won by Tara Creary, with Elizabeth Larsen and Kayla Thompson coming in second and third place respectfully. Once the judging was complete, the traditional cakes were shared with festival attendees.

For the first time, the Seven Fathoms Rum Challenge featured international competitors. Winning contestants from preliminary international rounds in New York, Miami and Chicago joined the five preliminary winners from Cayman to compete for Mixologist of the Year. Valerie Balignasay of The Westin and Micah Jensen of Kimpton Seafire made it to the final round, along with Sabrina Kudic of Trench Bar, Chicago, who eventually claimed the title of Taste of Cayman Mixologist of the Year.

Mr. Joey Hew, Councillor for the Ministry of Tourism, Transport and District Administration and Chef Maureen Cubbon, took the title in the Amateur Chef Cook Off with their sweet and spicy soft chicken taco against Theresa Broderick, Vice President of CITA and Chef Jolene Nelson.

Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival 2017 winners:

Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant: Seven at the Ritz Carlton

Best Food: Andiamo at the Ritz Carlton: shrimp and leek ravioli

Best Drink: Jacques Scott: ‘Don’t Go Bacon My Heart’

Best Dessert: Seven at the Ritz Carlton: ‘C4 Sundae’

Best Booth: Jacques Scott

Taste of Cayman Mixologist of the Year: Sabrina Kudic, Trench Bar

Heavy Cake 1^st Place: Tara Creary

Amateur Chef Cook Off winners: Mr. Joey Hew and Chef Maureen Cubbon

Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival 2017:

Taste of Cayman began in the late 80’s, when a small number of restaurants from the Cayman Islands Restaurant Association met in a field to compete in a Chili Cook Off. The event has now grown into what it is today, with thousands of festival goers and over 45 restaurants, bars and vendors participating in the island’s largest foodie gathering. 2017’s Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival was the 29^th annual festival and included new features such as the Camana Bay VIP Hospitality Tent, Camana Bay Kids Corner and the Experience Room.