Sun-fire Culinary Institute Coming to Grand Cayman

One of the world’s most famous chefs and renowned proponents of healthy eating and positive lifestyle now calls Grand Cayman his home.

Dr. Aris Latham is known the world over as one of the progenitors of a lifestyle that represents a fundamental paradigm shift in how we consume foods and what we eat - or rather - should be eating as a species from a strictly natural and profoundly compassionate point of view.

A simple search of his work on YouTube reveals his massive influence around the globe and a philosophy which is based on science and facts that are resonating with all walks of life; from professional nutritionists to naturalists across all socioeconomic and national boundaries.

Dr. Aris has now brought his 49 years of experience eating what he calls, ‘sun-fired’ foods to the shores of one of the culinary capitals of the world.

He will be opening the Sunfire Culinary Institute here in Grand Cayman and is in the process of writing his book and memoirs, whilst also teaching and entertaining guests at the Coconut Club in Palm Heights, where the Hyatt Beach Suites was located previously.

Dr. Aris does not cook his food and eats no meat or dairy products. In fact for nearly 5 decades, he has been on a sun-fired or raw-foods lifestyle. It is not veganism as we have come to know it but rather an even simpler and scientific approach to nutrition. Sun-fired foods means exactly that and is based on eating what mother earth has provided, from a plant-based perspective.

“I started eating like this to defend my life,” noted the Dr. Who explained that the day is split into three, eight-hour segments.

From 8pm to 4am, Dr. Aris contends that humans are fasting in their sleep and the body is repairing itself. From 4 am to 12 pm, he says we are breaking the fast; hence ‘break-fast’ which we have all associated with a time to eat everything in sight.

Dr. Latham warns however that during this delicate time of the day, humans should be treating themselves more gently and only consuming fruits, juices to wash the walls of the stomach. At 12pm to 8pm he says it’s time to get in proteins such as nuts, lentils, ackee, avocado and much more.

“During the morning hours you want to be eating from the canopy of the forests, as our ancestors did. Before the advent of fire nothing was cooked. It was the sun that cooked our foods and still does.

“When we pick a green banana or a plantain and boil it, we are actually trying to do what the sun does naturally. However, we are only getting starch, which the body then has to work as a refinery to turn into sugar. We were not designed to do this and the energy that is used in this process is what causes humans to feel lethargic and tired most of the time,” noted Dr. Aris.

He added that once the sun cooks our food, the naturally occurring enzymes in the food turn starch into simple sugars, which our bodies are then able to digest.

All of the food Dr. Aris prepares is not cooked, just the freshest vegetables and fruits and nuts prepared by nature and ready for consumption.

Now in his 73rd year and still running on the beach every day, as well as practicing gymnastics, je explained how his journey led him to the Cayman Islands and Palm Heights, where he can be found on Thursdays for a buffer and on Sundays for a complimentary tasting and meet and greet.

“I met someone in the jungle, where I was teaching and they told me about folks in Cayman who wanted t meet me but did not quite know how. Eventually they made their way to where I was and came to see what was happening. Upon seeing and hearing the message of sun-fired foods, they made a proposal and invited me over.”

Dr. Aris, who is originally from Panama, noted that the timing was just right, as he was seeking to take a break from the road.

“I first came in May and came once a month for a week,” explained Dr. Aris, who also has two restaurants in Jamaica and travels across to Caribbean and around the world regularly.

He now spends three weeks per month in Grand Cayman and the rest of the time in travelling.

“The food grown locally is excellent,” opined Dr. Latham – referring to Cayman’s small but bountiful agricultural scene, adding that agri-business had not tainted the food source on the Island.

Dr. Aris said because of the nature of the Cayman Island being a financial center, it is also easy to source items from around the world.

To learn more about Dr. Aris and his message of health as wealth and eating sun-fired foods, visit him at the Palm Heights’ Coconut Club on Thursday or Sundays from 1pm to 4pm or call 1-345-949-1234 for more information.