When did vacation become just another battle for dinner reservations?
The endless jostling for a table in Paris, Rome , or even NYC…it’s just another to-do in a life already overflowing with them. Another thing to manage. And it’s exactly why truly great resorts are having a moment. Because more and more, people are craving simplicity when it comes to the little time they actually have to unplug.
For us, getting invited to the Cayman Cookout felt like the antidote to the rat race of the reservation hunt.
We gladly accepted…and ended up with a few days on the beach at the Ritz-Carlton. More importantly? We were surrounded by a full lineup of the world’s best chefs with zero need to fight anyone for a table.
We knew that this trip demanded a proper documentary of the experience…so we’re thrilled to announce that FCJ TV is back with another installment on YouTube.
What did we stumble into on this one?
The Cayman Cookout is a 17-year-old culinary tradition. It started in 2009 when Chef Eric Ripert traveled down to Grand Cayman for a quiet family holiday. But he couldn’t help himself…because a chef can never go too long without entertaining. So the roster grew. The Ritz leaned all the way in. And it’s been one of the most unique events in the food world ever since.
We showed up hungry and left having eaten just about everything put in front of us: foie gras dumplings, lobster rolls with uni and caviar, beachfront paella with José Andrés. (We know, spoiled doesn’t begin to cover it.)
But when you distill it all down…it was never really just about the food.
The best chefs are entertainers at heart. The camera comes on and they know exactly what to do. How to command a room. How to make a moment feel like a memory while it’s still happening. That’s rare in most professions. But never for a chef, regardless of how much time they spend beyond the pass.
The moment that really crystallized it? A tournament of pétanque (basically French bocce ball) with Ripert and Andrés, with a free dinner at the legendary Le Bernardin on the line. So do tune in to see how it all turned out…
Last thing: if our video of the experience is half as entertaining as the talent cooking for us, we’ll know that we did the Cayman Cookout proud.
See you there next year?
That’s all for today. If you’re into this kind of thing, give it a heart so others know it’s worth a read. And, as always, smooth skies to the lot of you!
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