US Airways - July 2013 - (Page 46)

In 1997, a small garden near Georgetown on Grand Cayman began to grow into something very special. GETTING THERE uS Airways offers direct daily flights to Grand Cayman from Charlotte and seasonal weekend flights from Philadelphia. 46 July 2013 Fostered and lovingly tended by Dean Max, a superstar chef from South Florida, the garden flourished — and then some. Over the years it grew. It didn’t take long before Max’s garden became the talk of the island. In addition to traditional fare such as hearty island tubers (yams), greens (callaloo), and exotics (breadfruit), the garden produces heirloom tomatoes, ackee trees, delicate candy-striped beets, fragrant curry-leaf trees, and even a rare Tahitian vanilla orchid. Max strolls through his garden several times each day to pick produce and herbs at their peak for immediate use in his kitchen at the Brasserie. Along with hit-maker New York and Miami chefs (including Cindy Hutson, Eric Ripert, and Michael Schwartz), he intends to transform Grand Cayman into the Caribbean culinary destination. usairwaysmag.com For choice Caribbean cuisine, sophisticated food travelers have long headed to Barbados. But these chefs are convincing more and more adventurous eaters to set their sights on Grand Cayman. Do the Math “Grand Cayman is a puddle jump from Miami, an hour and five minutes versus four to Barbados,” says Delius Shirley, owner of Ortanique along with his partner, chef Cindy Hutson. “There’s a steady stream of East Coasters, and Cayman is without the celebrity and paparazzi distractions of other Caribbean islands. That’s all to Cayman’s advantage, why it works.” In theory, it does work. In reality, it takes majorleague chefs who can think with creative abandon to actually make it work. Although proximity to the mainland is a favorable factor, costs are high. According to a local financial source, it takes approximately $1.4 million (in U.S. dollars) to build a moderate-size restaurant on Grand Cayman, and the profit margins are razor-thin. And there are other financial challenges. Caymanians traditionally don’t work in the service industry. The result is an annual outlay of about http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2013

US Airways - July 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Family-Friendly Vacations
Wine & Dine: The Other Portland
Great Tastes: Benjamin Steakhouse
Wine & Dine: A Crafty Measure
Diversions: Fresh as You Please
Great Tastes: Savor
Great Escapes: Now Resorts & Spas
Adventure: Climbing Mt. Rainier
Travel Feature: Grand Cayman, the Epicure's Island
US Airways: Top Dogs
Special Section: Northwest Arkansas
Golf: Primland, a Course Apart
Special Section: North Carolina High Country
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2013