Cayman's Chef of the Year was crowned at the end of a fabulous evening of culinary entertainment at The Ritz-Carlton last week, with Mise en Place sous chef Gardine Euter (left) taking the top spot, beating a whole host of top male chefs in the process. Good for you, Gardine!
The gala fundraiser event, called Out of the Kitchen, brought over 20 of Cayman's top chefs out of the kitchen and into the ballroom, ably supported by their sous chefs, cooking for guests right at the table, and making rock stars out of the chefs in the process. What a treat for us diners!
Vicki Wheaton and Cynthia Hew made sure the commentary flowed so we could appreciate the antics at each and every table - broadcast to everyone on huge screens.
The gala fundraiser event, called Out of the Kitchen, brought over 20 of Cayman's top chefs out of the kitchen and into the ballroom, ably supported by their sous chefs, cooking for guests right at the table, and making rock stars out of the chefs in the process. What a treat for us diners!
Vicki Wheaton and Cynthia Hew made sure the commentary flowed so we could appreciate the antics at each and every table - broadcast to everyone on huge screens.
We chose to sit on Casa Havana's (the Westin's fine dining restaurant) table and watched as Executive Chef Yves Lafond and his sous chef (see below) got stuck right into making us a fresh and crisp Casear salad, a delicious selection of tapas straight for the restaurant's menu and an incredible seabass atop a wonderful fragrant tomatoey clear broth.
Some of Cayman's best-loved chefs created some show-stopping dishes, including The Brasserie's Chef Brad (left, flexing his mussels), Calypso Grill's Chef George (centre below), last year's Chef of the Year Chef Thrushara from Grand Old House (below right), and the Culinary Society's dynamic duo (not sure which one is Batman and which one is Robin...) Chefs Shetty and Keith (below left).
At the end of the evening a whole raft of prizes were given out to Cayman's talented culinary experts, but it was the Chef of the Year that everyone was waiting for. A roar of delight came from the Mise en Place team (right) as Gardine's names was announced. Gardine herself was very humble about her win and said she never expected it. She said she was absolutely delighted to win.
Growing up in her native Jamaica, Gardine said she was five years old when she decided she wanted to be a chef, after cooking her first meal - swordfish and rice.
Gardine was required to create some show stopping dishes for the judges, and then had to take part in a live cook off which included a mystery basket of ingredients, a la 'Chopped!'
"I was nervous cooking in front of a live audience, but as soon as I picked up my knife I got into the rhythm!" she said.
Gardine was required to create some show stopping dishes for the judges, and then had to take part in a live cook off which included a mystery basket of ingredients, a la 'Chopped!'
"I was nervous cooking in front of a live audience, but as soon as I picked up my knife I got into the rhythm!" she said.
As the evening drew to a close, Ritz-Carlton pastry chefs out-did themselves with a show stopping endless dessert buffet, a sweet end to a fab night.
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