Burger King drive through

Don't normally blog twice in one day, but couldn't resist.

Cayman boasts possibly the most scenic drive through fast food lane in the world with the Burger King on George Town waterfront, but this morning someone went "off the rails", so to speak !

Cayman gets a Multiplex Movie Theatre

Whilst Cayman has had a very nice two screen cinema for many years, complete with the Caribbean cinema tradition of cranking up the a/c so you need to dress like an Arctic explorer, it comes as very welcome news that in November this year we will be getting a brand new 6 screen, 900 seat multiplex.

This is just the start of the public facilities to come at the huge new Camana Bay development inland from Seven Mile Beach.



Took a quick look at their website, which should be taught in school as "how to have a website that is all style and no substance", but trust me, they have aleady poured a huge amount of money into this project, and it is visible from space (or at least Google Maps)

**nuts, tried to set up a link to a Google Maps placeholder going to Camana Bay, if anyone can help me with that, please comment**

... (if anyone helps me with the link I'll edit this so you can....) click on that link to see the moonscape... the satellite photo is a bit old, a lot of that space is now filled in with offices and other buildings).

Anyway, whilst out in the East End we can still remember (and resemble) when Cayman was known as the "Islands that time forgot", the development on Seven Mile Beach means that for much of Cayman that is no longer the case.... but I like the idea of a new cinema, I love movies !

Coconut Ice Cream Recipe, As Requested!!

Homemade Coconut Ice Cream Ingredients:

1/2 cup young coconut jelly
1/4 cup grated coconut (toasted if you like)
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup half-and-half
1 1/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs with a hand held mixer until thickened and pale yellow.

Beat in the cornstarch and salt. Set aside.

Combine the half-and-half with the coconut milk in a heavy medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Remove from the heat and slowly beat the hot liquid into the eggs and sugar.

Briefly rinse your saucepan and rub dry with paper towel or cloth. Pour the eggs, sugar, etc mixture back into the saucepan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble.

Remove from the heat and pour the hot custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, about five minutes, then stir in the coconut, heavy cream and vanilla.

Cover and refrigerate until cold (about 5 hours) or overnight.

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 3 hours.

Enjoy it!!

Beach Fitness at The Reef.

We have added another wonderful fitness activity here at The Reef -Beach Fitness. Not only are you having fun, but you're getting a great work out too!! Classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am -10am. She requires a minimum of 5 people signed up for the workout. The cost is a mere $15 per person, per class or $30 for the whole week!! Sonjia is a burst of energy and will make sure you are getting a great workout as well having loads of fun!! When you come down make sure to see either of our concierges, Ethel or Leona, and reserve your spot for the week!

Coconuts 101!!

Here are some pictures of some of our owners enjoying a sample of the coconut water as well as the jelly. Our own Mr. Clair came along with his trusty machete and chopped down some coconuts to share his knowledge and the wonderful flavours of the coconut.

Did you know that a coconut has many uses?? Let me name a few of them. The water is used for drinking, and is excellent chilled as well as right out of the coconut. Here in Grand Cayman it is said that it also offers medicinal solutions to minor infections.

The nut shell (the part that holds the meat)of the coconut has been used for various things, including a drinking cup, or bowl. The most recent use that I have seen is as a base for scented candles!!

The husk (the stringy part of the dried coconut ) was very often used for scrubbing the floors to make them shine (then along came "Mr. Clean"!!). But we also use it here as a natural deterrent to mosquitoes. Basically we use the dried husk of the coconut, and burn it, and the odor keeps the mosquitoes away. Its amazing!

The "meat" of the coconut can be used for many different things depending on its texture. A young coconut where the meet is only jelly, can be eaten raw or if anyone likes, I have a GREAT recipe for a homemade coconut ice cream, mine doesn't even get to really freeze before its finished!! Then when the meat is more firm, but still soft, it's used for making coconut drops (candy) and a variety of other candy items. Then there is when the coconut is hard and dry, that meat is what is grated, and that's what you can buy in the store as coconut flakes. It is also the harder meat that is used in the process of making coconut oil milk and coconut oil.

I think that's enough about the coconut! Thanks for reading!!

Summer is coming - but we don't need no outdoor cooling system !

We just received an email promoting "outdoor cooling systems", ie a fan blowing water vapour to cool off guests at a beach bar.

One of the joys of the East End of Grand Cayman is that in the summer months when humidity in the Caribbean is higher and most places don't get a breath of fresh air to cool off.... we almost always enjoy a light cooling breeze... so we won't need this latest "high tech" (??) innovation.

BTW, today's weather report.... it's HOT ! (but with a nice light breeze!)