Above: Jossell Louie Velazquez
CJ’s Caribbean Concierge talks to the hospitality pros who help make Caribbean travel work. The latest edition talks to Jossell Louie Velazquez, Chef Concierge at the St Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico and member of Les Clefs d’Or USA.
Where are you from, and how long have you been working at the property?
I am from Rochester, New York and I relocated to Puerto Rico in 1998. I started working at The St Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico on February 6th, 2011.
What do you like most about Puerto Rico?
The people, food and culture. There is a wonderful mix of Spanish, American, Taino and Indian-African culture that folds various flavors into the constantly evolving cuisine while maintaining the local traditions. Not to mention, people are extremely caring and warm.
What’s your favorite part of working at the hotel?
The grounds. The property is located at the foothills of El Yunque National Rainforest on a former coconut and sugar plantation. The area provides a harmony that allows our guests to truly appreciate nature through our lush manicured landscape, ocean views, Audubon Bird Sanctuary and our captivating Boat House.
What’s the most interesting or difficult request you’ve received from a guest?
It would have to be when I was asked to obtain a goat at 2:00 AM. There was an international film crew staying with us for their project and the star of the documentary was an old male goat. The goat had unfortunately passed away during the night and the film crew was scheduled to complete the last scene between 3:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. before flying out of Puerto Rico immediately after.
Above: a Plantation House Room at the St Regis Bahia Beach
What’s something most people don’t know about visiting the destination that they should?
Puerto Rico is blessed with many of Mother Nature’s best features:
· El Yunque National Rainforest is the only rainforest that is part of the United States of America.
· Puerto Rico boasts three Bioluminescent Bays: Las Croabas , La Parguera and Mosquito Bay (located in the sister municipality island of Vieques).
· Flamenco Beach is another hidden gem located in the sister municipality island of Culebra. It was rated by National Geographic magazine as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!
· Rio Camuy Caves Park’s ecological system houses the third largest underground river and stunning caves.
· Last but not least, the cuisine is absolutely exquisite and surprising. Puerto Rico welcomes flavours from various cultures (American, Spanish, African and Caribbean) allowing for the most worldly and exceptional gastronomy.
What are some attractions in Puerto Rico/Vieques you recommend to guests?
Old San Juan, our ancient fortress city, was built by the Spaniards during the colonization period and still stands as a sentinel to receive our visitors. The Arecibo Observatory is also a great attraction as it’s the world’s largest single-aperture telescope. Puerto Rico’s second largest city, Ponce, also has the oldest fully functional fire house on this side of the hemisphere. A visit to Puerto Rico is simply not complete without a stop at Guavate State Park where the locals and tourists convene to enjoy Puerto Rico’s most traditional cuisines such as Lechon and Pasteles during the weekends.
Where is your favourite place to eat off property?
Puerto Rican cuisine is both captivating and noteworthy to the most discriminating palates. I must admit that I enjoy the “kiosks” that are found in rural areas throughout the mountains and around the beach areas; they offer the most authentic, simplistic and traditional Puerto Rican cuisine while located next to breathtaking views.
Where is your favourite bar off property?
I enjoy Old San Juan during the weekends as most restaurants have their own specialty drinks within their respective bars. Each spot offers a different ambiance that is simply fabulous. A trip into the city quite often leads to visiting a few of the nightclubs for dancing. Old San Juan has a district known as SoFo (South of Fortaleza Street) which is characterized by its restaurants; it’s a timeless and alluring district at night!
If you had to recommend one experience in Puerto Rico, what would it be?
No visitor should leave the Island without experiencing the Bioluminescent Bays! If it rains, consider yourself lucky as each drop that hits the water will cause it to light up.