Whoever said “never meet your heroes” wasn’t talking about the Cayman Cookout.
If you’d told me I’d watch Eric Ripert plating pristine bites on the beach, Stephanie Izard stopping to chat at every table after cooking a private dinner for hundreds of guests, and José Andrés scuba diving for lionfish—then handing me a bowl of ceviche he’d just made from the catch on the dive boat—I’d have assumed you were pitching a food-nerd fever dream.
Instead, it’s Cayman Cookout: a luxury culinary festival hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Seven Mile Beach. And while I absolutely came for the food, what wowed me most was seeing some of the world’s most famous chefs genuinely interact with guests.
This isn’t a convention-center food festival where you’re squinting at a stage from row 47. Your morning might start with room-service breakfast on your balcony, or with a plated caviar breakfast by chefs Philippe Haddad and Bernard Guillas. Then you head down to José Andrés’ famous Paella Showcase in a beach pavilion, where his team tends giant pans while he keeps the crowd in stitches with stories and sharp, good-natured jabs at the other chefs in attendance. The headlining late-morning event, though, is the signature Bon Vivant Sunday Brunch, where young Caymanian chefs and hospitality talent get their moment in the spotlight, and the longest line in the room, fittingly, is for more caviar.
By afternoon, you’re bouncing between more chef demonstrations and events, like a rum-and-cigar poolside party or Grown in Cayman on the Great Lawn, hosted by Andrew Zimmern and showcasing dishes by local Caymanian chefs. The Beach Bash whisks guests away by catamaran to Rum Point, where you can kick off your shoes and wander through the sand from station to station for plates of what the chefs are firing up right in front of you.
And at night, the festival leans all the way into its beach-party side. Barefoot BBQ on Seven Mile Beach is exactly what it sounds like: stations run by big-name chefs, toes in the sand, waves in the background until the DJ’s beat takes over. There’s a late-night poolside soirée and a jazz lounge, where at both you’ll spot chefs and guests dancing in the same crowd.
The surprise, though, is how approachable everyone is. One moment they’re leading a packed demo, taking audience questions, or cooking at their station; the rest of the time they’re wandering the property, chatting with guests, playing pétanque, or stopping for questions and selfies. If you’ve ever wanted cooking tips or life insights from your culinary heroes, this is your chance to get them face-to-face instead of shouting into the Instagram void.
It’s not just the food, either. Cayman Cookout attracts some of the world’s top bartenders and drinks pros, so your day might include a tiki cocktail session with Kate Gerwin, a beachfront champagne tasting hosted by sommelier Aldo Sohm, and a perfectly stirred cocktail by Charles Joly. It all feels like the most fun night out, just with world-class food and drinks.
Eric Ripert dreamed up the concept nearly two decades ago, after opening Blue at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the highly acclaimed Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond-rated restaurant. Since then, Cayman Cookout has grown into an internationally recognized festival while staying true to its roots as an intimate culinary event.
When I asked Ripert about his vision for Cookout’s future, he said he wants to continue bringing in new ideas and talent from around the world.
“Cayman Cookout evolves like that,” he said. “It’s never the same, because the food is not the same, the cocktails are not the same, and the talents are different, with different personalities. But the DJ is always the same,” he laughed. And for good reason: that DJ had masses of people on their feet dancing after very full evening meals.
None of this is casual on the wallet, though. Staying at The Ritz-Carlton and stacking multiple ticketed events is a true splurge, the kind people save for alongside big concerts, safaris, or once-in-a-lifetime trips. But if you’re the kind of traveler who plans vacations around restaurants, who follows chefs the way other people follow actors and musicians, Cayman Cookout belongs squarely on your bucket list.
Because sometimes, meeting your heroes looks like the best ceviche you’ve ever had, dancing in the sand with fellow food-lovers to “Pink Pony Club,” and a chef you’ve only ever seen on TV leaning in to answer your question like you’ve been friends for years.