Coco Fest 2017: Celebrating An Island Staple

The annual Cocofest was held for its 2nd year at the historic Pedro's Castle and brought out all types of coconut crazed vendors serving cocktails in coconuts, cooking with coconut products and simply opening coconuts for some fresh water and meat.  In recent years research has shown the many health benefits that coconuts have, such as containing electrolytes in their water, being a lower glycemic index sweetener and also being a healthier cooking oil.  Caymanian culture has always had a strong relationship with the coconut in regards to the meat and milk as these are necessary to cook traditional dishes like rice and beans, conch stew and fish rundown, but the oil was a different story.  Somewhere along the way our relationship changed with coconut oil due to outside influence and this is what the local documentary Bright Spot highlighted when it premiered a few years back (and at the event if you hadn't seen it yet!). The residents of Cayman are once again embracing this local food staple in all its glory and Cocofest shows how far we have come with our love for the coconut in the form of a coconut-filled family fun day.

A coconut cocktail in Seven Fathom's signature coconut cup

Chef Jess of Taste This Life prepared a white chocolate coconut cake with Seven Fathom's caramel and whipped cream

Saucha had some tasty pepper sauce; but of course had other coconut delights like their macaroons made with coconut butter and coconut kombucha

Chef Jolene of Nyamaste created a coconut shrimp fritter with mango scotch bonnet sauce

Group shot of Chef Britta of Saucha, Chef Jolene of Nyamaste & Chef Jess of Taste This Life

Sweet As Can Be's Carol Braggs was selling one of my childhood favourites, coconut jelly, also known as a floppy bubby

Finally had the chance to try Powder Monkey's homemade marshmallows with this creation tossed in coconut flakes