Grand Cayman 2014

Our second year attending the Cayman Cookout, the sixth year of the event itself. We paced ourselves a bit better this year, having learned some (but not much) from last year. Followed by nicer weather that allowed five days of diving (for Dave) and golf (for Max).
Time for the Cayman Cookout with a different color for each of the three days Jan 25, 2014 11:03 AM : Grand Cayman, Maxine Klein
1 Time for the Cayman Cookout with a different color for each of the three days
 Thought the juxtapostion was kinda interesting in central Georgetown- a giant blue iguana street sculpture in front of Victoria's Secret Jan 24, 2014 1:38 PM : Grand Cayman
2 Thought the juxtapostion was kinda interesting in central Georgetown- a giant blue iguana street sculpture in front of Victoria's Secret
After the cookout, we went back to some familiar spots and tried some new places for lunch and dinner. The Burger Shack was new this year, and was indeed just a shack in a strip mall. Fresh hand-made patties and awesome fries lived up to the raves from all the locals. Jan 22, 2014 1:43 PM : Grand Cayman
3 After the cookout, we went back to some familiar spots and tried some new places for lunch and dinner. The Burger Shack was new this year, and was indeed just a shack in a strip mall. Fresh hand-made patties and awesome fries lived up to the raves from all the locals.
 Karma is an Asian fusion spot with a nice outdoor patio that had also come highly recommended by locals. We were next door at Diver's Supply one afternoon, so we tried the mahi-mahi tacos which were some of the best. Jan 23, 2014 2:30 PM : Grand Cayman
4 Karma is an Asian fusion spot with a nice outdoor patio that had also come highly recommended by locals. We were next door at Diver's Supply one afternoon, so we tried the mahi-mahi tacos which were some of the best.
In all the years we've been going to Grand Cayman, we had never eaten at The Brasserie until this trip. We are now duly chastised on what we had been missing. It is the only "farm to table" restaurant on an island that has no real farms! Chef Dean Max runs his own fishing boats, has his own chicken coops, and has a larged raised-bed garden behind the restaurant that supplies all of the produce. Really phenomenal, the restaurant has an associated market deli where we stopped later in the week for lunch. Jan 20, 2014 8:50 PM : Grand Cayman
5 In all the years we've been going to Grand Cayman, we had never eaten at The Brasserie until this trip. We are now duly chastised on what we had been missing. It is the only "farm to table" restaurant on an island that has no real farms! Chef Dean Max runs his own fishing boats, has his own chicken coops, and has a larged raised-bed garden behind the restaurant that supplies all of the produce. Really phenomenal, the restaurant has an associated market deli where we stopped later in the week for lunch.
 An old standby for us within walking distance of the hotel, Edoardo's serves really good Italian. Who would've thunk it in Grand Cayman? Jan 23, 2014 10:27 PM : Grand Cayman
6 An old standby for us within walking distance of the hotel, Edoardo's serves really good Italian. Who would've thunk it in Grand Cayman?
Our week is winding down and reentry to the frozen North is looming, so time for dinner at Eric Ripert's Blue. Jan 22, 2014 10:41 PM : David Zeleznik, Grand Cayman, Maxine Klein
7 Our week is winding down and reentry to the frozen North is looming, so time for dinner at Eric Ripert's Blue.
  

Cayman Cookout Day #1

We had a seven hour delay getting out of JFK on Thursday, but finally made it down to Grand Cayman. We didn't miss much beach time since it had been raining steadily for the previous couple of days with lots of wind and extremely high seas. Friday morning was the kickoff of the 3 day Cayman Cookout 2014, which was followed by a week of chillaxing. The weather report showed some clearing and better conditions by Sunday, so we had our fingers crossed.

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Cayman Cookout Day #2

Day 2 of the Cayman Cookout dawned a little bit brighter, but the rough seas prevented the day's kickoff event, Burgers in Paradise, from taking place at Rum Point Club. The waves on the North Sound would have had everyone leaning (or heaving) over the sides of the catamarans. So, the whole catamaran ride / stingray city prelude was axed and the barbecue was relocated to the Ritz's beach. The good side was that allowed an extra hour or so of sleep-in time to recover from the previous day's debauchery. Ah... but Burgers in Paradise was only the start of another long day of eating, and drinking... and eating ... and drinking ....

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Cayman Cookout Day #3

Sunday, day 3, was the final day of the Cayman Cookout. Yet again we were put to the test by an early morning sake tasting and then the big champagne brunch. Luckily we had most of the afternoon free to rest and recover.

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Diving

By the Monday following the Cayman Cookout, the weather finally cleared up for five days of great diving yet again with Chris and Kate Alpers of Indigo Divers. Not only did they have a new dock and loo since last year, they had their first employee Bec! A northern swell came in briefly on Wed which forced the diving to the South Sound, but it provided an opportunity to hit some dive sites that I had not been to in quite a number of years.

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