What's New in the Cayman Culinary Scene 2016

What's New in the Cayman Culinary Scene

Taste of Cayman Winner "The Bistro" will be new to many of my passengers this year .Amazing French cuisine all fresh farm to table. Find this restaurant right in the middle of Seven Mile Beach opposite of the Famous Caribbean Club. Located in the Caribbean Plaza known for European-style dishes, daily specials and delicious desserts all made with fresh local ingredients. They have a fantastic wine list and cocktail menu as well.  Passenger's favorite is their famous Steak Tartare. A must have before you leave island. The entire chef team at the Bistro is committed to farm to table freshness with a pure french focus.

Another Amazing newbie to the Cayman culinary scene is"Catch" located at Morgan's Harbour. If you love Agua on Seven Mile Beach you will definitely enjoy their sister restaurant right on the water.  They take pride in serving the freshest fish, in fact you can actually watch the boats bring the catch in. If you love seafood and oceanfront dining do not miss this experience Passenger's favorite of the restaurant  tuna sashimi is amazing their number one appetizer!

If you love Mexican cuisine  you will love Chef Loyd's  farm to table Mexican Cantina.  "Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tquilla Bar"This little restaurant is located right next to the famous Cooper Falls.  Their unique menu is full of fresh eats (as in farm-to-table fresh), from their tacos to guacamole! “Farm to Table” is a phrase that is becoming the trend on the island . Chef Lloyd's team takes pride in collaborating with local farmers for over 5 years. Many passengers enjoy the Tequila Bar offering many kinds of Margaritas. Passengers Favorite isthe Mexican Corn roasted and rolled in imported cheese!


Another Amazing new restaurant is "LOLA" at Camana Bay, Passenger love their family friendly pricing.  Lola is now open and Passengers have been raving about this new trendy bistro, fit for foodies. Located on the Paseo in Camana Bay, both locals and tourists are loving this friendly neighborhood gem offering an inventive and creative menu that offers diners an opportunity to experience a modern spin on their favorite dishes. With freshness and flavor at the forefront, this trendy and cozy little bistro is now serving breakfast, lunch & dinner daily! The in-house bakery and pastry shop specializes in artisan breads, designer cakes, sweet and savory treats and gourmet coffees by Illy. A Passenger Favorite Seared filet of Salmon with Seafood Dumplings, Yukon Gold Mashed Potato's, Fresh Medley of Vegetables & Passion fruit emulsion.

For my clean eating friends we have two new  on the island  "Vivo" Located in the northwest coast of Grand Cayman, VIVO is the new vibrant cafe and restaurant from the renowned Chef Gilbert Cavallaro. It’s a new healthy culinary experience at Lighthouse Point. The name VIVO, was born from the experimentation with replacing traditional ingredients with raw, live alternatives, which are the summit of nutrition. The word VIVO comes from the Latin vīvō and means 'to live' or 'to be alive'. Their eco-friendly meat-free menu offers raw, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options. In an attempt to try and limit the invasive population of lionfish in Cayman’s, they are happy to also offer a tasty selection of lionfish dishes. They select our ingredients with the greatest care, to serve you natural, healthy, delicious food, prepared with passion and positive energy. Famous for how they cook lion fish pared with local vegetables.

 My Passengers love "Island Naturals Café", a wonderful vegan and vegetarian eatery designed to meet the needs of today's health conscious vacationers. This café was created from a passion for fresh food, healthy eating and the environment. Their menu aims to please all palates and includes gluten free options. With Island Naturals Café, you can expect seasonal updates of hearty dishes and homemade beverages, including made-to-order smoothies, fresh juices and fruity iced teas. As healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, they offer a wide variety of sustain-ably grown, non-GMO, organic, raw super foods that each have their own quality of abundant nutrients, energy and benefits. These folks are now the top restaurant serving up a healthy/vegan focus menu. This past year they expanded their cafe to double the size so they have a lot more seating. Open now for healthy breakfast 7 days a week from 7am-11am with oatmeal, acai bowls, gluten free muffins, fresh juices, parfaits, breakfast wraps and smoothies. Passenger Favorite their Vegan Bowl

For many of you returning to the East End you may not be aware that Tukka opened a new sister restaurant called "Eagle Rays Bar and Grill"Passengers love this fun filled Bar& Grill with an amazing view of the ocean! This is definitely the new diver hang on East End, located at Compass Point and Ocean Frontiers with a fabulous view of incoming boats. Folks love their lion fish taco's! Family friendly pricing menu's in US pricing yeah! It has a very casual beach bar vibe going, with six shaded outdoor picnic tables, three bar top tables, and numerous bar stools at the bar. If you are a salad lover their mahi-mahi Caesar is fabulous also!

  "Bar Crudo" Just downstairs from Guy Harvey’s Island Grill is the brand new Raw Bar "Crudo". Crudo is Italian for “raw,” and the name is appropriate as a good number of items on the menu are raw, including sushi, ceviche, oysters, caviar and many other delicacies. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of raw, there are ample hot appetizers to choose from as well. You can sit down to a platter of seafood, fish fingers, mozzarella sticks, conch fritters, crab cakes and other mouthwatering entrees. And of course Guy Harvey’s Island Grill is right upstairs! Being right at street level on the water-front, makes it one of the easiest spots to access in down town. There is outdoor seating for Bar Crudo directly across the street on the water. Note Guy Harvey's has a new Stogie and Brandy Bar down stairs as well!
Last but not least "Smuglers Rum Bar" and Minus Below Located in the Flagship building in heart of downtown Georgetown right next to Minus 5 is Smugglers Rum Bar, its sister lounge just outside the freezer doors. Here people gather for an evening of cocktails and rum tastings, surrounded by artifacts and antiquities, in a relaxing atmosphere. Sure, it’s warmer than minus5, but it’s also refreshingly cool, thanks to a combination cooling system that keeps patrons comfortable, as they enjoy the fresh breezes blowing in through the main doors. Smugglers Rum Bar is a rum lover’s dream, with shelf upon shelf of over 100 different rums along the back wall. You can either indulge in a rum cocktail, or try a rum “flight,” where one savors the magical differences between light, golden and dark rums from local and international labels. Although owners Melanie and Craig Ling have other Minus5 properties in Las Vegas, Orlando and New York, this is the first Smugglers Rum Bar they’ve created, along with partner Matthew Wight. “It really fits with the spirit of the Cayman Islands,” says Melanie. “We have put a lot of time into sourcing authentic décor, along with pewter drink ware to give the bar that fun, Caribbean vibe.”

Cayman Food Tours

www.caymanfoodtours.com

Passengers love the Taste of George Town Tour! Anyone wanting to experience the local culture and fabulous food, this is the foodie tour for you! It is something different to do while you enjoying the island. Have heard great things about Marzeta, the tour guide. She is local and is very knowledgeable, not only about food, but about everything there is to know about Grand Cayman. The walking tour is easy, interesting and very informative. The tour visits 5 Cayman Islands food tasting locations for 10 mouth-watering samplings, enough for a hearty lunch, in the capital and financial centre, George Town. Beyond the diverse eats and sweet treats, fascinating stories will reveal the rich history and architecture as you stroll through the streets of the capital. All food and drink tastings, enough for lunch, are included in the ticket price of US$75. Tastings and stops include: a restaurant at the forefront of local and global movement for sustainable fishing; locally made sweet and spicy jam; cool iced tea inspired by the flora of the Cayman Islands; West Indian street food; award-winning local beer; the world famous baked good that is the Cayman Islands' number one export; and a taste of the Mediterranean with a twist courtesy of the Jamaican Blue Mountains. Served alongside your tastings are the stories about how these establishments started, have grown, and captured the hearts of people in the Cayman Islands for decades. All food tastings are included in the ticket price. Between tastings, you will get an insider's view of modern and historic George Town as you stroll the bustling vibrant streets of one of the world's largest international financial centers. Their enthusiastic, local guides share their knowledge and recommendations of architectural gems, historic churches and community buildings, and exciting local attractions and restaurants. (345) 927-1000

The Flavour Tour - Camana Bay

The restaurants of Camana Bay have joined forces to offer an exciting new dining experience, The Flavour Tour, held every Wednesday from 7-9pm. The evening begins with a glass of sparkling wine at West Indies Wine Company. Diners then embark on a guided adventure featuring seasonal, local ingredients in the signature styles of Abacus, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Mizu and Ortanique. At each restaurant diners enjoy small plate courses complemented by featured wine or cocktail pairings before returning to West Indies Wine Company for a taste of one of their 80 vintages. The ingredients are sourced straight from Camana Bay's weekly Farmers & Artisans Market. The cost is $69CI per person, including gratuities. Tickets must be purchased in advance at West Indies Wine Company, located on The Paseo in the heart of Camana Bay. For more information, contact West Indies Wine Company at 345.640.9492 or info@wiwc.ky.Tours can also be customised for private groups of 12-20 people throughout the week, except for Sunday and Friday. To book a private tour, email flavourtour@camanabay.com.

We were sad to say goodbye to Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink (Camana Bay)  which closed for business in August 2015, however, a new family friendly pizza and pasta restaurant, The Brooklyn, opened in its place in late 2015. , Whiskey Mist & Lillie’s, a multi room traditional Irish bar and sophisticated nightclub and Cayman Vapour Company, which is hoping to create a trend on Cayman that has swept America. Royal Palms reopened their Italian restaurant Prima.