Cayman’s Best… Epicurean Theme Nights
Let’s be honest, Cayman has a lot of food & beverage events going on for such a small island. There are almost too many to count with some being weekly, monthly or quarterly. My favourite epicurean theme nights range from a Caribbean farm-to-table dinner to a wine pairing competition between sommeliers. Check it out!
Somm Stand-Off is for adventurous foodies and wine lovers who are willing to try anything, seeing as both the menu and wine served are unknown leading up to the event. Upon being seated guests will finally see the 4-course menu that Agua’s chefs have planned for the evening. For each course the two competing sommeliers choose a wine they believe best pairs with the meal and it is up to the diner to choose whether wine A or wine B is there favourite. This means that for each course you get two 3oz glasses of wine, making that a total of eight glasses for the evening. The votes are counted after each course and it is announced which sommelier had the most popular pairing each round. The atmosphere is always buzzing as each table will discuss the food, their favourite wine pairing and guesses on the each wine’s varietal or country. Somm Stand-Off runs between October to April and they hold a different round each month. With gratuities included the event will run you about CI$140 so book your spot soon as they always sell out. Learn more about Agua by visiting their page located in my Seven Mile Beach District Guide.
Epicurean Tip: If you have a large group or know people attending that you want to sit with let them know in advance. Also, if there is extra wine leftover servers will be walking around with a decanter and ask if you want a top up.
We may not have left the island much (or at all) in 2021, but Ave at the Kimpton Seafire Resort has been taking us around the world the past few months with their globally-inspired theme nights. With a new destination chosen every few weeks, Ave has enabled us to travel to Spain, Greece, the South of France and Morocco through their creative execution in food, drinks and ambiance. At each dinner you can expect multiple cold and hot appetisers served family-style followed by a buffet filled with a variety of mains, sides and desserts relevant to the theme. Bottles of wine and cocktails inspired the region are available at an additional cost and are meant to complete your dining experience. This epicurean theme night touches on more than just your taste buds as there is always entertainment in the form of live music, dancers or even plate smashing - Opa! With a price of CI$48 for all of the above you’ll understand why it’s one of the best deals on island for a unique night out. Learn more about Ave by visiting their page located in my Seven Mile District Guide.
Epicurean Tip: This epicurean theme night only occurs once per week for a period of 4-6 weeks and always sells out, so make sure to reserve your table in advance.
Cayman Cabana’s Farm-to-Table Dinner
This one is near and dear to my heart because it highlights locally grown produce in a creative farm-to-table meal. Cayman Cabana’s multi-coursed dinner is served family style every Thursday and the long tables allow for free flowing conversations between friends, family and strangers. In the past few years it has become one of the island’s must-do dinners due to the hospitality of owners Luigi and Christina Moxam, a chance to dine seaside under the stars and the abundance of delicious food coming out of the kitchen. The exact menu is unknown before you arrive because everything’s bought the day before, but you can typically expect fresh juice, a local soup, coconut ceviche, loaded flatbreads, plenty of sides, fresh catch and dessert. Learn more about Cayman Cabana by visiting their page located in my George Town District Guide.
Epicurean Tip: They shop at the farmer’s market on Wednesday, so you must book by then to ensure they buy enough for the next day’s dinner.
Ms. Piper’s opened in Fall 2021 and is located behind the newly renovated Hampton Inn by Hilton on the Seven Mile Strip. The restaurant has the appearance of a Caribbean cottage with screened porches, tropical flora, luxe umbrellas and sits adjacent to the pool. Seeing that the Executive Chef, Damian Manfre, is Argentinian I can guarantee that he brings a level of authenticity to this cuisine that is unmatched on island. Every Wednesday, Ms. Piper’s hosts ‘Argentinian Grill Night’ where a small grill takes centre stage on your table and is able to feed 2-3 people. The grill is a meat lovers dream as it’s filled to the brim with an 8oz skirt steak, 8oz ribeye, quarter chicken leg, chorizo sausage and grilled mollejas (sweetbreads). The meal wouldn’t be complete without their tender domino potatoes, an egg-filled bell pepper and two mouthwatering sauces, homemade salsa and a garlicky chimichurri. You won’t regret trying this unique dining experience where the best part is actually the price - just CI$65 for all of the above!
Epicurean Tip: Make a night of it by ordering an empanada or cheesy provoleta to start, and definitely finish the night with their rich dulce de leche crepe.
This is a longstanding event hosted by The Brasserie, but I only attended my first one in November 2024. After attending my first ever SWIRL event with Master Sommelier Simone Ragusa, my eyes have been opened! What makes these monthly events (during peak season) unique compared to anywhere else on island is the educational component. Each month they have a different theme that focuses on regions, vintages or varietals. The ones that I attended included the “Left & Right Banks of Bordeaux” and “Champagne and Oysters”.
For just CI$65 (+ gratuities) you’ll enjoy 5 glasses of wine paired with tapas by Chef Artemio Lopez of The Brasserie. As we continue to learn about each wine, you’ll dive into the food pairings that are phenomenal. Some tapas I’ve had in the past included a pepper-crusted local tuna, chicken liver pâté, locally grown chanterelles, grilled lamb chop and a beef tenderloin. Even though I went solo to these events it was easy to start conversations with your neighbours where you could express opinions on the wines and food pairings, but also to ask Simone questions too.
Epicurean tip: All of the featured wines are available for purchase from Brasserie Purveyors at the end of the night and attendees get an additional 10% off any wines that they purchase.
V2O’s Sushi Saturdays
Vines2Ocean (V2O) is a tucked away, cozy wine bar along the busy Seven Mile Strip that has an exclusive wine list and an eclectic food menu. This award-winning restaurant has won Silver for the Best of Cayman Islands Awards in 2024 and 2025 in the categories of ‘Wine Bar’, “Seafood’ and ‘Sushi’. They have all the things you’d imagine for a wine bar, oysters, charcuterie boards and small bites, but randomly they also have some of the best sushi on island. They have quickly become a favourite spot for those of us in the know because their selective sushi menu features freshly-caught local fish. Their ‘Sushi Saturday’ deal is easy to follow: purchase any specialty sushi roll, sashimi or nigiri with a glass of wine for just CI$22. 2 rolls means 2 glasses of wine, 3 rolles means 3 glasses of wine - it’s unlimited. With most of the rolls being around CI$18, that means your glass of wine is a mere $4 extra! My recommendation is the Caribbean-inspired Wahoo Mango Roll, hearty Surf & Turf Roll that is stuffed with tempura shrimp and avocado and topped with a torched strip of steak or the Spicy Tuna Roll if you want a classic. They also have other theme nights from Wednesday to Friday, but this is personally my favourite one to attend.
Epicurean tip: Order a round of oysters to kick off your seafood experience. This one’s extra special because it’s served with a mini bottle of Cayman Peppa’s Signature House sauce - an escovitch-inspired hot sauce that is similar to Tobasco (but even better in my opinion!)