We've often thought about reliving our days in the countryside, at our grandparents' house:  trolling the sea shore aimlessly, eating grandma's curried crabs and sweet cakes, but mostly just wanting a second chance at grandpa's... secret cabinet (we know you do, too).

Barring that, we'd like to direct your attention to a dining room to the south of George Town in Grand Cayman, where wine-soaked memories of your post-colonial youth are being rehashed.  Get familiar with Grand Old House, taking reservations now on the island.

Once inside this fine dining eatery, you'll notice a certain type of period grandeur – the kind that makes you want to sit up straight and recite Latin – and a nightly, classical, pianist who helps maintain the ambiance of the era.  Occupying the Petra Plantation House, built in 1908 (translation:  it's old), on the edge of the sea just past Jackson Point, the restaurant stands firmly on bedrock, supported by 136 ironwood posts (in case you were wondering).  Its interior combines the house's origins with the cool, quasi-Mediterranean gazebos for outdoor dining at the water's edge.

The menu changes constantly, so get some appetizers going (think:  New Zealand Lamb Rack Chops, with artichoke hummus, pear chutney and pomegranate vinaigrette) while you examine the wine list, which happens to read like an encyclopedia.  You and your plus-one are moving on to the entrées, which could be either Seared Scallops & Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with truffle potato mousseline and sautéed spinach with a shellfish reduction, or the Butter Poached Caribbean Lobster Tail with spiced potato strudel, pine nuts and a parsley sauce.  In the unlikely event that you have room for more, we say aim for more – we heard something about tequila-infused snow crab and lobster on a mango gazpacho concoction.

Grandma never made tequila-infused snow crab... but sometimes you just have to take whatever you can get.

 

Grand Old House | S. Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands | 345 949 9333 | www.grandoldhouse.com