Food is a key part of the Cayman Island’s success story. In the last few years, Cayman has built a reputation as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, winning plaudits for the quality, authenticity and international standards of its food and restaurants. Food has become a quintessential part of the Cayman Islands Experience.
As part of its culinary ambition, Cayman has attracted some of the worlds’ top chefs including the UK’s most acclaimed female chef, Clare Smyth MBE – the first British woman to hold and retain three Michelin stars. Celebrating links between the UK and Cayman, Clare spent 10 days in Cayman in 2017 to create a series of bespoke dining experiences celebrating the distinct flavours of the Caribbean.
In April 2018, Chef Clare Smyth was named “World Best Female Chef”, a prestigious accolade distributed by the international awards body, World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
As part of Clare’s support and links to the Cayman Islands, a special lunch was held at her new London Restaurant “Core” for 40 guests in partnership with the Nth Degree on 15 May 2018.
Clare was in the Cayman Islands in March 2017 where she hosted 10 days of “pop up” culinary events including a four-course dinner at the Kimpton Seafire, a harvest dinner where she worked with the head chef from Abacus and other public demonstrations. She also led an afternoon class for children aged 8 to 12 teaching them basic culinary skills which were all part of Jamie Oliver’s global initiative.
The guest list for the luncheon included high net worth business people, members of the Nth Degree Club and a Cayman delegation led by Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, HE Governor Anwar Choudhury, Speaker Hon. McKeeva Bush, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ezzard Miller, Chris Saunders, MLA and Councillors Barbara Conolly and Capt. Eugene Ebanks. The event was hosted by Robert Walton MBE. Robert, who frequently visits relatives in the Cayman Islands, is a recognized and respected figure in the hospitality industry and is President of the Restaurant Association of Great Britain.
The lunch continued the theme of Cayman’s links to the UK, but also underline the message of Cayman as a Culinary Capital.
