When there are so many restaurants boasting fabulous settings, stand-out food and the option of reserving your own private space, why go to the trouble of hosting a soirée yourself? Instead, take inspiration from Real Life’s selection of stylish local establishments that have all the ingredients to create a magical occasion just for you.

With such a multicultural population, Cayman’s restaurants boast an enviable diversity of cuisines. So until international trips are on the menu again, why not travel the world through the medium of food?

With such a multicultural population, Cayman’s restaurants boast an enviable diversity of cuisines. So until international trips are on the menu again, why not travel the world through the medium of food?

Everybody likes a social gathering, whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, or a fundraiser, but if you’re the host, organising and executing the event can be stressful and complex. Far better to call in the professionals, who will deliver seamless service and outstanding food, allowing you to enjoy the party as much as your guests.

Tamarind: fruit, legume or spice? Growing on trees in long brown pods containing a sticky brown paste, the tamarind is a curious hybrid.

Freshly caught fish, masterfully prepared and discreetly delivered, only steps from the ocean – that’s an experience to be savoured, at home or away. We’ve scoured the region to find the finest seafood restaurants all of which are bound to set your taste buds tingling

Must-Haves, Setting the Scene, table décor

Avocados are enjoying a food fashion moment. Slicing prettily into crescents of soft, creamy green, they’re one of the most Instagrammed foods of our time.

But they’re so much more than simply photogenic. Avocados are rich and decadent in texture and taste, a breeze to prepare and, best of all, genuinely good for us.

Whilst most creamy foods come with a health warning obliging us to consume them in moderation, avocados give us buttery textures and nutty flavours with no downside. In fact, an avocado a day could just keep the doctor away.

Boasting nearly twenty vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and plenty of fibre, they’re full of goodness. They’re also almost devoid of the bad: no cholesterol, no sodium, only small amounts of saturated fat, and plenty of healthy unsaturated fat.

Spread them on your breakfast toast, mash them into a zesty guacamole or blend them into a cold summer soup... this is one versatile tropical fruit that will enhance just about any dish you add it to.

Festive Cocktails - These tasty tipples will certainly add some jolly and cheer to your holidays.

Dripping from trees across the Caribbean and Central America, the flesh, seeds and leaves of the guava have, for centuries, been prized for both their flavour and therapeutic properties. Indeed, the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" could just as well apply to guavas in tropical regions. Like apples, the fruit grows prolifically, keeps well without preservatives, and is brimming with fibre, as much vitamin C as four oranges and more potassium than a banana, plus a host of other health-boosting phytonutrients. The goodness of guava is about more than the delicately flavoured flesh, however: the leaves of the guava tree have long been used to treat diarrhoea, diabetes and obesity and the seeds can be dried and used as a stomach cleanser.

Kitchen must-Have decor and accessories 2018

Most of us love to explore our adventurous side. For wine lovers, trying a unique bottle of wine is akin to venturing out into the world in search of new experiences. Yusuf Farouk from Jacques Scott gives us his take on a few wines for those wanting to journey into the world of wine.

Having enthusiastically embraced the use of local, sustainable ingredients, the region's top chefs are now scaling new heights of culinary creativity, artistic presentation and superb settings. These are some of the Caribbean's most acclaimed chefs.

A curious and contradictory Caribbean staple, ackee is a fruit that is cooked as if it were a vegetable, finds its perfect partner in fish, and that is highly toxic before it becomes wholesome and health-giving. Although not native to the region – it is thought to have arrived on a ship travelling to Jamaica from West Africa in the 18th century - the pear-shaped fruit with its soft texture and mild flavour quickly became one half of the country’s national dish, ackee and saltfish.

Vibrantly coloured juices and thick, creamy smoothies.... all are undeniably Instagrammable – but which is really better for you?
island nourish cayman, green2go cayman

A well-stocked home bar is a grown-up rite of passage. Gone are the days of serving vodka that’s been in the back of your freezer for years or a random bottle of wine you got as a gift. Even if your current residence can’t accommodate a full-scale libation station, a bar cart kitted out with the tools of the trade means you can still perform some pretty impressive home mixology.

Whether you like your cocktails shaken or stirred, there are a few staples no tipple trolley should be without. So what are the essentials and what can you do without? Consider this your barware basics 101.

Choosing the right wine to take to an event – one that sends the right message and creates the desired impression – can be a daunting task. Fear not, for Yusuf Farouk from Jacques Scott has a suggestion for every occasion, whether it's dinner with friends or a gift for a colleague.

A memorable gastronomic experience is about much more than the food on one’s plate. It’s the full package - exceptional venue, ambiance, service and innovative culinary creations - that make some restaurants worth travelling for.