Taste of Cayman 2023 is about to celebrate their 35th year in Grand Cayman. What started out over 35 years ago as a simple chilli cook off among the island’s residents has exploded into the largest one-day food festival. With over 25+ vendors participating this year there’s a lot to look forward to and attendees can expect to see some some annual favourites along with the newest places to enter the food & beverage scene since 2020. Even though it’s been on a 4 year hiatus, the team and sponsors behind Taste of Cayman 2023 have expanded to include the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. So in case you missed it, our longest running festival has recently unveiled a new name: “Taste of Cayman 2023 presented by Visit Cayman Islands”. This year’s Taste of Cayman may have some new additions and features, but there’s a lot of your favourite things still here too. Here’s what you can expect at Taste or Cayman 2023:

They’ve gone digital! Gone are those days of standing in long lines searching and counting your paper tickets. Taste of Cayman 2023 has evolved where each guest will be provided a wrist band on arrival that can be scanned by the restaurants and bars for the necessary amount of tickets needed. Need to top up for more tastings? It’s simple with this cashless and contactless system whenever you locate ticket stands around the Festival Green at Camana Bay. You will also be able to vote for the Taste of Cayman 2023 ‘Best Restaurant’ digitally; simply download the Good Taste App to choose your favourite one!
Cooking competitions will be plentiful. Explore Caymanian heritage when you visit the “All Things Cayman” area and see who will be the 2023 winners for the cassava cake and Cayman-style beef competitions. Then support Cayman’s youth in the Amateur Chef Cook-Off where they will compete on-stage with their chef mentor nearby. Lastly, witness the “Ultimate Steak Sandwich” show-down on the demo stage between Carnivore Owner/ Chef Dylan Benoit and visiting Top Chef Canada Season 10 winner Trevane Sanderson.
Live music from local singers and DJs will take to the main stage, along with the talented Material Girls tribute band who will perform songs by some of your favourite leading ladies like Cher and Madonna. The musical talent is always incredible at Taste of Cayman, so I can’t wait to see what they bring this year!
Food, food & more food! There are over 25 food & drink vendors, so plan your route wisely. Some of this year’s vendors include the Beach House by The Westin, Agave and Island Naturals and post-2020 newcomers Saint June by the Ritz-Carlton, The Edgy Vedge and Pane & Pasta.
A VIP experience that gives you so much more - more tickets, more food, more exclusivity. One feature I’ve always loved about the VIP ticket is access to their air-conditioned tent where you can grab a seat, visit a separate bar and are provided with a welcome drink and canapés. There are also other perks that include priority parking, express entry to the venue and VIP bathrooms. VIP ticket holders also get to attend 1 additional event in a space called the ‘Experience Room’. Some of this year’s demos feature Young Cayman Chef 2023 winner Brittney Bodden, a mixology demo by Maya Grant and celebrity Chef Jeff “Sandwich King” Mauro from the Food Network. Learn more about the VIP experience by visiting the Taste of Cayman 2023 website.

The weekend is almost here so if you haven’t purchased your tickets don’t delay! Visit the Taste of Cayman 2023 website at www.tasteofcayman.org to learn more about the event and where to purchase tickets. See you there!

About Taste of Cayman

Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival is an annual initiative of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) which promotes the culinary excellence of the Cayman Islands food and drink sector. In 2023, Cayman’s largest and longest running food and drink festival celebrates 35 years since it first began with a small number of restaurants from the Cayman Islands Restaurant Association meeting in a field to compete in a Chilli Cook-off. Today, the event has grown to attract thousands of festival goers to celebrate and experience the food and drink scene in the culinary capital of the Caribbean, and enjoy the music and party atmosphere that it has become known for.

Visit www.tasteofcayman.org to buy tickets, find out more about participating restaurants, music artists and discover unique experiences for 2023.

The Return of Taste of Cayman in 2023