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People/Culture
The three Cayman Islands boast a total population just over 33,000. About 32,000 people reside on the largest island, followed by 1,200 residents on Cayman Brac and a scant 120 on Little Cayman.
It's a varied population, with cultures from around the globe. About a third of all residents are non-Caymanians. Most are from the US, Canada, the UK and nearby Jamaica, although a total of 113 nationalities are represented.
English is the primary language in the Cayman Islands, but you'll notice it is spoken with a unique lilt, one a little different from accents in other areas of the Caribbean. It's a reminder of the islands' earliest Welsh, Scottish, and English settlers. You'll often hear the Jamaican patois as well.
EARTH WATCH: The islands are home to the Cayman Islands Humane Society, a non-profit organization that offers low-cost neutering and spaying programs and finds homes for stray pets. For more information,
(345) 945-2668. Donations can be sent to the Cayman Islands Humane Society, P.O. Box 1167, George Town, Grand Cayman,
BWI.
Caymanian cuisine reflects the riches of the sea. Traditional Caymanian food includes turtle, brought to the table in the form of soup, stew, or steak, and conch (pronounced konk), the mollusc that lives in the beautiful pink-and-white shell seen throughout the islands. Conch is a versatile dish and may be served as an appetizer in the form of fritters, a soup prepared as a chowder or thick with onions and spices as a stew, or even uncooked, marinated in lime juice as
ceviche.
The influences of nearby Jamaica are seen on island menus as well, especially in the jerk seasoning that ignites fish, chicken, and other meats. Jerk is meat or fish slathered with a fiery concoction of scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, salt, garlic, scallions, and onions, then slow-cooked over a flame to produce a dish similar to a piquant barbecue. As in Jamaica, jerk is often served with rice and beans (usually pigeon peas), a traditional Caribbean side dish.
Other Caribbean favorites found in the Cayman Islands include breadfruit (similar in taste to a potato, and served in as many ways), cassava (another potato-like vegetable), fish tea (a broth-like soup), johnny cake (fried bread), patty (a meat pie that's a Caribbean standard as popular as the American hamburger), pumpkin soup (using Caribbean pumpkins, which are not sweet), saltfish (dried and salted codfish), and ackee (a fruit that tastes somewhat like scrambled eggs and, for breakfast, is served with
saltfish).
With residents and visitors from around the world, however, the Cayman Islands also offer many other types of cuisine, especially on Grand
Cayman.
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