Top Dining Experience Ortanique
Passenger Pick of the Month
Ortanique
To learn more about the story behind Ortanique, so recently we caught up with executive chef Cindy Hutson and co-owner Delius Shirley.
Overlooking Camana Bay's harbor on The Crescent, Ortanique prides itself with its mouthwatering menu and in taking local ingredients to the next level. As this month's Passenger Pick of the Month, we wanted to learn more? PP: Cindy, where did you cut your culinary teeth?
CH: I am basically self-taught, and developed a passion for cooking at the age of nine. I was inspired by the t.v. culinary genius of the "Galloping Gourmet" and "Chef Tell", and would emulate their creations on Saturday afternoons. In my early teen years, I was exposed to Italian and Portuguese cuisine through my best friend's father, a successful restaurateur from New Jersey.
PP: Interesting! When did you and Delius Shirley meet?
CH: It was 1994 when I met Delius. At that point my main concern was my three kids, so I was a bit hesitant. But it was Delius who finally convinced me to go into the restaurant business with him.
PP: Tell us about that.
CH: In November 1994 we opened "Norma's on the Beach" in Miami. It was quite a success. Norma's was named as "the best Caribbean restaurant in South Florida by USA Today, New York Times, London Times, Chicago Tribune and Ocean Drive magazines. In 1996 we were awarded the coveted "5 Star Diamond Award" for Norma's on the Beach.
PP: Impressive. Delius, How did you come to choose "Norma's on the Beach" as your first restaurant name?
DS: Norma's was named after my mother, Norma Shirley.
PP: Ahhh! She must have had a significant influence on your career. Tell us more about her.
DS: Norma never attended culinary school or had any work experience in restaurants, however she was a phenomenal cook. She opened her first restaurant in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, when her friend, actor Terence Hill, encouraged her to go into business with him. "Stockbridge Station" was also where I entered the restaurant business at the age of nine. My mother had me in there washing dishes twice a week, which looking back really was the beginning of my restaurant career. PP: What a great start! But how did the Jamaican connection happen?
DS: After Massachusetts, Norma moved to New York where she worked for many years as the main caterer for Condé Nast Magazines. In 1986, she participated in a cooking expo in Jamaica, where she won and was named "Woman of the Year". She moved down shortly after and opened her first restaurant there. It was Vogue Magazine who would give her the prestigious title of the "Julia Child of the Caribbean".
PP: Did you ever go into business with your Mother?
DS: In 1992, I moved from my job as a Financial Analyst in Washington, D.C. to Jamaica to help her open a restaurant in Montego Bay called "Norma's at the Wharf House". It was a great experience, however I still found myself back in the States to live in Miami in April of 1994. By November of 1994, Cindy and I were opening "Norma's on the Beach".
PP: Tell us about the deal with Norma's Terrace Salad.
CH: Norma's Terrace Salad isan Ortanique signature dish we prepare. It's a juicy tropical summer salad with a charitable twist. This mouth-watering recipe takes advantage of
PP Such a great cause! Cindy, it's great to learn the history behind Ortanique. Tell us what we can look forward to from the dynamic team behind Ortanique?
CH: I am currently working on my first cookbook. I'm on a deadline right now to test my new recipes. The book will be a selection of some of my favourite tried and true recipes from my various restaurants as well as new recipes that I've been developing lately. I'm really focusing on recipes for the home cook. People have begun to become really interested in food and the newest culinary trends, but are often skeptical to try at home. I've written the book with keeping this in mind. I want to make my recipes approachable for the home cook.
PP: How exciting! we can't wait to read it. When can Cindy Hutson fans get their hands on the new book?
CH: We are hoping for it to go to print in late September and be released in February 2015, in time for Cayman Cookout!
PP: Great timing for Taste of Cayman too! Delius, we love your Caja China Island Pig Roasts (they have been named the #1 Foodie Event on the island by my Passengers), what else is going on at Ortanique for us to try?
DS: We now have an exciting special promotion for our valued guests, every single night of the week! On Mondays, enjoy $5 mojito madness and $5 signature breadfruit fish tacos.
Tuesday night is for our wine lovers – 25% off bottles of wine or champagne all day. On Wednesday nights, bring your significant other out for Cayman's ultimate date night, a 3-course meal with wine and two movie tickets for just $80 per couple. On the last Thursday of every month, experience our new "Cuisine of the Sun" dinner series, with each event focusing on a different cuisine from some of your favourite sun destinations around the world.
Friday night is for the happy hour crowds, who absolutely love our $5 Caribbean bar bite selections. On Saturday, we invite all the ladies of Cayman to our lounge and bar, where we will offer their second round on the house! From December to May, we have a Caribbean Sunday Funday Brunch, with traditional dishes like braised oxtail and festival, as well as a make-your-own ceviche station and a la carte egg favorites. At just $30 for all you can eat and $15 all you can drink bubbles & Mary's, it's a deal you can't miss.
PP: There really is something new and fresh every night of the week at Ortanique.What passengers love about this restaurant is that it offers ethnically diverse cuisine by concentrating on the wonderful taste combinations of fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and traditional tropical seasonings. Choose from spicy to fruit-infused and everything in between. The local fish and produce is artfully highlighted in each dish, giving guests a true Caribbean experience with a fine dining twist. Whether dining in or outside on the deck under the stars and canopy of sea grape trees, Ortanique is sure to excite the senses!
Ortanique
47 Forum Lane
The Crescent at Camana Bay
(345) 640-7710
Learn more about this Wonderful Restaurant at www.passengerpicks.com
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