My friends,

One of my favorite cooking events took place over the weekend — the Cayman Cookout. Now in its 13th year at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, this food festival is organized by my friend Eric Ripert, and it’s always full of fun, games, and so much cooking and eating with lots of chefs like my friends Dominique Crenn, Daniel Boulud, and Emeril Lagasse.

I don’t really remember why or how, but when I began joining Eric at the Cookout, I decided I would not just show up, I would make a real entrance. I’ll give you a few examples of what I mean by an “entrance.”

Back in 2017, I made a plan with Emeril to arrive on jet skis, popping and shooting champagne at each other as we approached the shore.

In 2018, I decided I had to top that. So I jumped out of a helicopter hovering 15 feet above the ocean while the James Bond theme played.

I was about 15 feet over the sea here when I jumped — what a thrill!

This is a dear memory with my friend Tony Bourdain

One year I came by horse with my late friend Tony Bourdain.

Another year it was by Jetpack!

Flying in a Jet Pack is as much fun as it looks!

In 2019, I pulled up to the shore in a yellow submarine!

I loved this entrance on the Yellow Submarine!

The last time we had the Cookout was in 2020, just before the pandemic shut everything down. That year, it appeared to everyone that I entered on an ATV, flanked by a masked entourage. But once everyone got into the tent, we revealed that it was a decoy. I walked in moments later.

Why? Well, I had planned to drive the ATV but at the last minute I thought: There are too many babies on the beach… and I’ve never driven an ATV before. But that was my shirt. I think I even fooled my wife!

So you see, I have built a reputation for surprising entrances. I like to try to outdo myself and keep people asking: “What will José do this year?”

So what did I do this year? I faked them out! My daughters and my friend chef Eric Ripert helped me play a little gag, telling everyone at the Cookout that I went off diving and wouldn’t get back in time for my paella demonstration. So Eric pretended to start the demo without me! Can you imagine? A French guy trying to make paella! Do you think I would let that happen? NO WAY! I saved the day though. I showed up a few minutes late with with a big bundle of fish on a spear, and we started the demo and made a huge pan of paella for everyone to share. The best! Who knows what I’ll come up with next year…

Do you think I would really let a French guy take over my paella demonstration? Here I am coming in with my spear full of fish.

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