Cayman Cookout Day #1

Grand Cayman 2014
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.
Seven hour delay getting out of JFK on Thursday on Cayman Air. JFK was shutdown for a couple of hours Wed nite due to fog, so the inbound flight from GC was diverted to DC. It didn't arrive in NYC until 1:30am and the pilots need 8hrs mandatory sleep, so.... So, we finally made it down to Grand Cayman where we found it had had been cold and raining steadily for the last couple of days with lots of wind and extremely high seas. So, no missed beach time. Friday through Sunday is the Cayman Cookout 2014 then some chillaxing. Weather report shows some clearing and better conditions by Sunday, so fingers crossed. Jan 17, 2014 10:53 AM : Grand Cayman
1 Seven hour delay getting out of JFK on Thursday on Cayman Air. JFK was shutdown for a couple of hours Wed nite due to fog, so the inbound flight from GC was diverted to DC. It didn't arrive in NYC until 1:30am and the pilots need 8hrs mandatory sleep, so.... So, we finally made it down to Grand Cayman where we found it had had been cold and raining steadily for the last couple of days with lots of wind and extremely high seas. So, no missed beach time. Friday through Sunday is the Cayman Cookout 2014 then some chillaxing. Weather report shows some clearing and better conditions by Sunday, so fingers crossed.
 Friday morning rough weather and seas, they're battening down the hatches on the beachfront culinary demos. Rain at 45 degrees with 20mph winds makes for a soggy audience. Jan 17, 2014 10:33 AM : Grand Cayman
2 Friday morning rough weather and seas, they're battening down the hatches on the beachfront culinary demos. Rain at 45 degrees with 20mph winds makes for a soggy audience.
Eric Ripert, Jose Andres, and Tony Bourdain make their grand kickoff entrance by horseback as Los Tres Amigos Jan 17, 2014 11:08 AM : Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman, José Andrés
3 Eric Ripert, Jose Andres, and Tony Bourdain make their grand kickoff entrance by horseback as Los Tres Amigos
 Jan 17, 2014 11:09 AM : Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman
4
Jose Andres shows how to make Fideuà, which is paella with toasted angel hair pasta that has been cut into short pieces instead of the traditional rice Jan 17, 2014 11:25 AM : Grand Cayman, José Andrés
5 Jose Andres shows how to make Fideuà, which is paella with toasted angel hair pasta that has been cut into short pieces instead of the traditional rice
 Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud are thoroughly enjoying Jose Andres' kickoff demo, and are furiously taking and comparing photos with their phones Jan 17, 2014 11:44 AM : Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman
6 Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud are thoroughly enjoying Jose Andres' kickoff demo, and are furiously taking and comparing photos with their phones
Tony and his daughter watching the entertainment that is Jose Andres Jan 17, 2014 11:29 AM : Anthony Bourdain, Grand Cayman
7 Tony and his daughter watching the entertainment that is Jose Andres
 Adding the langoustines Jan 17, 2014 11:52 AM : Grand Cayman
8 Adding the langoustines
While the Fideuà cooks, Jose starts showing how to make a pisco punch, whereupon he spills the whole drink shaker down the front of his pants Jan 17, 2014 11:45 AM : Grand Cayman, José Andrés
9 While the Fideuà cooks, Jose starts showing how to make a pisco punch, whereupon he spills the whole drink shaker down the front of his pants
 More amusement for Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, and Rainer Zinngrebe, the executive food&beverage VP for the Ritz chain Jan 17, 2014 11:52 AM : Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman, Rainer Zinngrebe
10 More amusement for Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, and Rainer Zinngrebe, the executive food&beverage VP for the Ritz chain
Explanation: the drink was not up to standards Jan 17, 2014 11:53 AM : Grand Cayman, José Andrés
11 Explanation: the drink was not up to standards
 Back to square one, making sure to blame the assistant for the poor quality of the first drink attempt Jan 17, 2014 11:18 AM : Grand Cayman, José Andrés
12 Back to square one, making sure to blame the assistant for the poor quality of the first drink attempt
José Andrés introduces that today we will be making Fideuà and Pisco Sours, then buys time with several odes to shrimp because the outdoor burners are not keeping pace, and finally makes a replacement pisco sour after the first one goes down his pants Jan 17, 2014 12:08 PM : video thumbnail
13 José Andrés introduces that today we will be making Fideuà and Pisco Sours, then buys time with several odes to shrimp because the outdoor burners are not keeping pace, and finally makes a replacement pisco sour after the first one goes down his pants
 After a thorough sousing with Jose Andres @10am, it's time for lunch with Lidia Bastianich Jan 17, 2014 12:27 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich
14 After a thorough sousing with Jose Andres @10am, it's time for lunch with Lidia Bastianich
Rainer Zinngrebe, VP of F&B for the entire Ritz chain, introduces Lidia Bastianich Jan 17, 2014 12:42 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich, Rainer Zinngrebe
15 Rainer Zinngrebe, VP of F&B for the entire Ritz chain, introduces Lidia Bastianich
 Maine lobstah with shredded burrata Jan 17, 2014 1:05 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich
16 Maine lobstah with shredded burrata
Lidia shows the candele ("candles") for the pasta course Jan 17, 2014 1:26 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich
17 Lidia shows the candele ("candles") for the pasta course
 Grilled tuna over endives with a beet/balsamic reduction Jan 17, 2014 2:08 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich
18 Grilled tuna over endives with a beet/balsamic reduction
Tiramisu parfait of meyer lemon and candied orange Jan 17, 2014 2:39 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich
19 Tiramisu parfait of meyer lemon and candied orange
 Post-lunch photo-op with Lidia and new friend Marina Trejo who hails from Ridgefield, CT Jan 17, 2014 2:22 PM : Grand Cayman, Lidia Bastianich, Marina Trejo, Maxine Klein
20 Post-lunch photo-op with Lidia and new friend Marina Trejo who hails from Ridgefield, CT
Jan 17, 2014 4:41 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
21
 Cutting up the wahoo for ceviche Jan 17, 2014 4:49 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
22 Cutting up the wahoo for ceviche
"Cooking" the shrimp and wahoo in lime juice, some diced avocado, and cilantro leaf. Jan 17, 2014 5:09 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
23 "Cooking" the shrimp and wahoo in lime juice, some diced avocado, and cilantro leaf.
 Rick asked the local purveyor for octopus, expecting the small 4-8 inch kind for ceviche. Instead, they figured more was better and gave him this baby which was too large for him to poach in the pots that he had! Jan 17, 2014 5:12 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
24 Rick asked the local purveyor for octopus, expecting the small 4-8 inch kind for ceviche. Instead, they figured more was better and gave him this baby which was too large for him to poach in the pots that he had!
Rick soldiers on, using the octo-beast to show how to remove the eyes, beak, and clean it. Jan 17, 2014 5:13 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
25 Rick soldiers on, using the octo-beast to show how to remove the eyes, beak, and clean it.
 Jan 17, 2014 5:34 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
26
The final cóctel with a sauce equal parts ketchup, hot sauce, and lime juice. Jan 17, 2014 5:38 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
27 The final cóctel with a sauce equal parts ketchup, hot sauce, and lime juice.
 Ceviche! Jan 17, 2014 5:39 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
28 Ceviche!
Jan 17, 2014 5:39 PM : Grand Cayman, Rick Bayless
29
 Friday night was the Barefoot Barbecue. Each guest chef had a booth setup on the beach at the Royal Palms club. This is a beach and swim club on 7-Mile Beach. Jan 17, 2014 8:56 PM : Grand Cayman
30 Friday night was the Barefoot Barbecue. Each guest chef had a booth setup on the beach at the Royal Palms club. This is a beach and swim club on 7-Mile Beach.
The booths closest to the water were starting to get a little soggy from the rough incoming tide Jan 17, 2014 8:57 PM : Grand Cayman
31 The booths closest to the water were starting to get a little soggy from the rough incoming tide
 It's Barefoot Barbecue time and Anthony Bourdain is serving up steak skewers. Good, definitely some of the longest lines, but not the best on offer.... Jan 17, 2014 7:56 PM : Anthony Bourdain, Grand Cayman
32 It's Barefoot Barbecue time and Anthony Bourdain is serving up steak skewers. Good, definitely some of the longest lines, but not the best on offer....
Eric Ripert's team is doing awesome local tuna seared on one side, delish!! Jan 17, 2014 8:01 PM : Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman
33 Eric Ripert's team is doing awesome local tuna seared on one side, delish!!
 Eric plates and serves the tuna Jan 17, 2014 8:00 PM : Eric Ripert, Grand Cayman
34 Eric plates and serves the tuna
Jose Andres and his team are doing the best sliders I have ever tasted. Jan 17, 2014 8:13 PM : Grand Cayman, José Andrés
35 Jose Andres and his team are doing the best sliders I have ever tasted.
 Scott Popovic is doing grilled ribeye "Cleveland style". Well I'll just call it Polish- with potato and cheese pierogi, pickled cabbage, and coriander paprika cream. Jan 17, 2014 8:33 PM : Grand Cayman, Scott Popovic
36 Scott Popovic is doing grilled ribeye "Cleveland style". Well I'll just call it Polish- with potato and cheese pierogi, pickled cabbage, and coriander paprika cream.
It's dessert and coffee time around the Royal Palms pool Jan 17, 2014 8:59 PM : Grand Cayman
37 It's dessert and coffee time around the Royal Palms pool
 ... and pool bar Jan 17, 2014 10:01 PM : Grand Cayman
38 ... and pool bar
Jan 17, 2014 10:03 PM : Grand Cayman
39
 Snagged one of the few available 4-tops while sampling the cheese course during Friday nite's Barefoot Barbecue, when who should wander over to join us but Daniel Boulud and his new wife, Katherine Gage! Very fun conversation, turns out she went to Trinity, discussed the West Hartford dining scene a bit and some charity events he had done in Hartford. Jan 17, 2014 9:48 PM : Daniel Boulud, David Zeleznik, Grand Cayman, Maxine Klein
40 Snagged one of the few available 4-tops while sampling the cheese course during Friday nite's Barefoot Barbecue, when who should wander over to join us but Daniel Boulud and his new wife, Katherine Gage! Very fun conversation, turns out she went to Trinity, discussed the West Hartford dining scene a bit and some charity events he had done in Hartford.