Talking Points

Event: Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival

Date: Saturday January 26th 2013

Time: 5:00 pm – 11:45pm

Food Service: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Fireworks: 8:00pm

Location: NEW VENUE at Camana Bay’s Festival Green

Ticket Price: CI$35 in advance CI$45 event day

Children’s ticket price ages 5 – 12 years old: (CI$15)

Children under 5 are free

Ticket Sales: Available NOW @ www.tasteofcayman.org

CITA Visitors Centre (1320 West Bay Road)

Books and Books, Camana Bay

What is Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival?:

Taste of Cayman, Food & Wine Festival at Camana Bay, is a culinary showcase and community event that is also the number one fundraiser for the non-profit Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA). The event is in its 25th year and in a recent poll conducted by the Caymanian Compass was recognized as the most anticipated culinary event on the island. The event attracts crowds 4,000 – 5,000 persons annually featuring approximately 35 restaurants and local and international wines, liquors and brews.

Festival History:

The Taste of Cayman festival is CITA’s largest annual event and was founded by Mike Flowers with other Cayman Islands Restaurant Association members in 1986.

The event was originally held at the Safe Haven empty lot (located beside what is now The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman).

When the various tourism bodies amalgamated in 2001 to form the Cayman Islands Tourism Association the association took over the planning of Taste of Cayman and the event moved a few times to places like the Cayman Turtle Farm.

Camana Bay:

 

In 2008, Camana Bay became a major sponsor and host of this blossoming food and wine festival and assisted festival organizers along with Cayman Islands Department of Tourism to receive more international recognition. It was at this time that the festivals name changed from Taste of Cayman to Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival at Camana Bay. The festival remained in the town centre until 2012 when there was a thirty percent increase year on year in attendance. As the festival organizers began planning for 2013 it was evident that this festival needed to return to its grass roots.

Camana Bay generously offered to continue to support the festival and its growth and assisted the CITA to move the festival in 2013 to the plot of land located just behind Camana Bay Town Centre located beside the canal which has been dubbed the Festival Green. The Festival Green got its name due to the impressive number of recent events that have been held on the manicured grass plot of land including most recently the Squash Tournament, John Legend Concert, Cayman Islands Jazz Festival and more.

2013 Festival Features:

Hog Sty Bay Bar:

Sponsored by Caybrew, Seven Fathoms and Premier Wines & Spirits will take you back in time to Cayman’s Hog Sty Bay circa 1920. This bar will feature locally distilled Seven Fathoms Rum, Cayman Islands Brewery will have their latest brews available to taste and Premier Wines & Spirits will be satisfying your palate with a variety of wines from around the world. Decorative rum barrels, nautical rope and shipyard decor will have you shouting ARRR! like a pirate in no time! Cayrock and the following acts will be on the Hog Sty Bay Bar’s stage jamming the night away: I Am, Cory & Kate Allenger, Glen Scott, Holly Morris, David Innis, and Isadora Ferraopowell and Jarrett.

The GREY GOOSE Luxe Lounge:

The GREY GOOSE® Lounge sponsored by Cayman Distributors Group will have bartenders stirring and shaking a variety of cocktails under the careful guidance and direction of Grey Goose Brand Master and mixologist; Jason Druckenmiller. Jason is known for his cocktail theory, pouring techniques and spirits knowledge. A live DJ will be spinning vibes all night long in this luxurious lounge you won’t want to miss. Mix and mingle with the who’s who of Cayman including Blake and Erin from X107.1’s morning show as you explore the world of GREY GOOSE® vodka.

All Things Cayman Area and Stage:

This area will have the Heavy Cake Competition, stage with live local bands and the winning East End Fish Tea competitor.

Bon Vivant Demonstration Kitchen

Several Cayman chefs will share their delicious traditional Caymanian recipes and locally grown ingredients. Recipe cards featuring the demonstrated dishes will be handed out courtesy of McCormick spices.

Seven Fathoms Mixology Competition

Watch as these mixologists shake down in a rum rumble! There will be a preliminary run with 8 competitors who will create their own signature drink. Contestants will be graded on the creativity of the name, style and taste of the drink. The top 3 contestants will go on to compete in the final heat where there will be a “mystery ingredient” revealed at which point they will be given 10 minutes on the clock to create a drink featuring the ingredient to be served to the judges panel. The winner will be crowned Cayman’s top mixologist for 2013 and will have their own trophy and a 20 litre barrel of rum.

Live Music

Get true tastes of Caymanian music, on the All Things Cayman stage featuring: K-Man Son, Little Magic, BluWater, Cool School, Pandemonium, Inverse, Regeneration and Exile.

All music is coordinated by CITA’s only musical member Isadora Ferrao-Powell of the band Bona Fide. This is Isadora’s third year volunteering her time to assist the

association in the coordination of Taste of Cayman’s music. A well respected member of the community, member of the tourism association, talented musician and no stranger to Camana Bay.

Email: [email protected]

Phone : +1 345 326 2662 (BONA) or +1 345 938 3433 (FIDE)

Website: www.bonafidecayman.com

Live Cultural Demonstrations

Chris Christian of Cayman Traditional Arts, and his year six students currently enrolled in the Heritage Arts Program sponsored by The Premiers office and taking place in all Government schools will be displaying their new talents at this year’s Taste of Cayman.

The students have been learning traditional Caymanian crafts and cultural arts such as thatch weaving, rope twisting, making calavans, whompers, kites and much more.

It is an excellent opportunity for them to pass on their knowledge to locals and visitors alike.

Mr. Christian and his students will be accompanied by some Craft Market vendors in the All Things Cayman Area at the festival until 8:00pm be sure to visit them!

Heavy Cake Competition

Watch a panel of judges in sampling the very best of Cayman’s heavy cake as registered competitors bring a tray of their famous heavy cake to share with festival attendees with the hope of taking home the coveted title of Taste of Cayman’s Best Heavy Cake and a $300 cash prize.

Though there are over twelve different kinds of heavy cake this year’s competitors will be baking traditional Caymanian heavy cake featuring three mandatory ingredients cassava, coconut milk and brown sugar.

Photo Booth

Visit this years Photo Booth returning for the third year in a row. This popular festival feature is back by popular demand. Grab some friends, dress up in culinary-esque costumes and fabulous oversized foodie accessories including a giant sushi, ice-cream hat, whisk and of course chef hats and strike a pose! Onlookers outside the booth can’t resist the fun displayed on the live television feed outside the booth.

The best part is photos are instantly uploaded to Facebook for you to enjoy and smile about for years to come.

Caymans Favourite Restaurant

There are a number of awards handed out throughout the night by secret judges for Best Booth, Best Food, Best Drink and more. The most coveted award of the night however is the Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant award which is the only people’s choice award.

Upon entry festival attendees will receive a wooden nickel which they will carry with them until they determine the one restaurant they deem deserving of the title!

The winning restaurant, as voted by the festival attendees will hold rights to the title Cayman’s Favourite Restaurant and receive a $1,000 cash prize.

For More Information on Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival:

Be sure to register for our weekly newsletter beginning nine weeks prior to the festival. You can register by visiting the Taste of Cayman websites homepage www.tasteofcayman.org and entering your details.

The Taste of Cayman website also features blog posts, details on accommodations, a site map, a list of updated vendors, sponsors and more.

Social Media:

Follow the CITA’s social media sites and get regular updates and “wine sips”, cooking tips by leading chefs, recipes and much more…

www.facebook.com/tasteofcayman

http://www.facebook.com/cita.ky

www.facebook.com/caymanculinary