New Year’s Resolutions concerning diets hardly stand a chance in the Cayman Islands. With Cayman Culinary Month starting 9 January and running through mid-February, there’s just too much temptation to abstain from all the good food and drink available.

Culinary Month kicks off 9 January with a unique dining experience opportunity that runs through 18 February called Sunset, Fly, Dine. After a Champagne reception, Cayman Islands Helicopters flies guests on a sunset helicopter tour, which is followed by five-course dinner at the Lobster Pot Restaurant.

Culinary month kicks into high gear on 12 January with the Cayman Cookout, a four-day food and wine festival primarily held at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The event features some of the hottest names in the culinary world, including television personalities like Chef Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, plus noted chefs from some of the trendiest restaurants on the planet like Jose Andres, Richard Blais, April Bloomfield, Francois Payard, and Paul Rogalski.  The chefs will be joined by famous wine makers, master sommeliers and media personalities to host a busy slate of demonstrations, tastings, seminars, lunches, brunches and dinners.

On 18 January, Agua Restaurant offers a five-course meal of freshly caught lobster and conch for a great price, with optional wine pairings.

Starting 19 January and for the following two Thursdays, Divetech @ Cobalt Coast hosts lion fish hunts, preparation demonstrations and tastings.

The action moves over to the Casa Havana restaurant at the Westin Casuarina Resort on 20 January for Latin Night Under the Stars, a Latin-themed dinner with wines from Chile and Argentina and Ron Zacapa rum from Guatemala.

Beach barbecues are a part of Cayman’s culinary tradition and on 21 January, the folks of Dine by Design/Al La Kebab will present a multi-cultural barbecue at the Seven Mile Beach Public Beach, showcasing various barbecue methods and flavours, paired with wine and beer. 

That evening The Cayman Islands Distillery offers a tour of Cayman's only commercial rum distillery – complete with tastings – followed by a two-hour sunset cruise on the Jolly Roger pirate ship featuring rum-themed appetizers and a Seven Fathoms Rum cocktail.

On Monday 23 January at the East End Surf Challenge the fish tea cook-off – featuring Cayman’s version of fish soup -  will occur with bragging rights for the year at stake once again.  That evening, Margaritaville hosts Margarita Monday, a sampling of different margaritas along with hors d'oeuvres.

On Saturday 28 January, Cayman Luxury Charters offers 14 people an exclusive two-hour sunset cruise – complete with appetizers and unlimited sparkling wine – aboard a luxury yacht. That evening, the Taste of Cayman Food & Wine festival – one of Grand Cayman’s longest running culinary events – takes place at Camana Bay. More than 30 local restaurants will participate in offering tastes of some of the best food Cayman has to offer.

On Friday 3 February, the Rum Point Club will host a beach party.  There will be live music, cigar rolling, and rum tasting along with a buffet dinner featuring roasted pig, grilled meats and seafood plus accompaniments.  Also that evening, The Cayman Islands Brewery will host a brewery tour and a dinner paired with beer.

Local ingredients will be featured during Slow Food Day Grand Cayman on Saturday 4 February. The event will start in the morning at the Market at the Grounds farmers’ market with live chef demonstrations and tastings of fresh local produce and meats. That evening, local farmers will pair with selected restaurants in offering farm-to-table dinners.

Also on 4 February, Reds, Whites and Brews will take place at Grand Harbour. Beer and wine purveyors will showcase their products while restaurants prepare local favourites like oxtail, conch stew, curried goat and other dishes. 

The Culinary Month activities move back to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman from Tuesday 7 February through Saturday 11 February when the restaurant Blue by Eric Ripert offers Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams, a caviar tasting menu paired with the world’s most famous sparkling wine.

On the final Saturday of Culinary Month, Blackbeard’s Fine Wines, Beers & Spirits will team with the Brasserie Restaurant and the Fantinel Winery on Saturday 11 February to host a five-course wine dinner featuring fine Italian wines.