The team of judges tasted their way through 10 heavy cake entries at the 25th Anniversary Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival’s Heavy Cake Competition. The challenge to the panel of self-proclaimed heavy cake experts was to not only enjoy the samples of each cake that was entered by a local baker; the judges also had to rate the cakes based on the texture, flavor and how well the cake represented the traditional Caymanian style of heavy cake, awarding a maximum of 10 points to each cake. When the scores were combined, three bakers were identified as having the best heavy cakes on island.

‘Best Heavy Cake 2013’ at the 25th Anniversary Taste of Cayman Food and Wine Festival, and a cash prize of CI $300, was awarded to Deirdre Seymour. Ms. Seymour said that she ‘started (baking) at age 21 and visited older Caymanian ladies in various districts on Grand Cayman and also in Cayman Brac to learn how to make them (heavy cakes).’ She is proud to have learned the tradition as she wants to ‘pass this most important tradition/heritage on to my children who already love to cook and bake.’

The second place award of CI $150 was presented to Corrine Evans-Ebanks. ‘I used to watch my dad bake heavy cakes. He is sick for couple of years now. So he can no longer bake. I took up the job of baking and cooking. He told me I am as good as he was,’ said Ms. Evans-Ebanks, when asked where she developed her interest in baking heavy cakes.

Third place, which received CI $50 cash prize, was awarded to Melanie Ebanks-Jackson, who is passionate about keeping the tradition of heavy cake alive in Cayman. ‘I feel it is imperative that this Caymanian tradition be preserved. I enjoyed baking so much that I was able to incorporate Just Desserts in 2006, which specializes in heavy cakes. This traditional recipe has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed to this day.’

Heavy cake is a traditional Caymanian food, the origins of which date back to the 19th century when flour, sugar, eggs and dairy products were considered luxury items and hard to come by on these tiny remote islands. For the 25th anniversary Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival, it was important to organizers to promote Caymanian heritage at the event, and featuring heavy cakes whipped up by local bakers was a highlight of the ‘All Things Cayman’ area at the festival.

Selected as one of the most anticipated events in Grand Cayman in an online poll at CayCompass.com, the Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary event on 26 January 2013, with 4000 attendees enjoying the variety of culinary delights from 42 different restaurants and food vendors. The festival is the largest fundraiser for the non-profit Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA).

Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) Background:

The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) was formed in March 2001, through an amalgamation of the Cayman Tourism Alliance and the Cayman Islands Hotel and Condominium Association. The CITA represents tourism businesses from all sectors, including hotels, condominiums and villas, watersports operators, restaurants, attractions, airlines, tourism transport providers, cruise sector businesses and allied tourism service providers. The CITA represents almost 200 tourism businesses and is active in the areas of industry and government relations, marketing and events, industry development and education.

Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival Background:

Taste of Cayman began in the late 1970’s, although the date is disputed as a few years were missed here or there. The event began shortly after the formation of the Restaurant Association. It was later adopted by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association when the Restaurant Association and other associations amalgamated in 2001. The Taste of Cayman became non-profit CITA’s largest fundraiser annually and gained a full title of Taste of