News

7 Chefs Tell You Where (And What) to Eat in Puerto rico

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - April 14, 2014
1 of 7

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

SAN JUAN — If you’re in an unfamiliar destination in search of authentic cuisine, who better to ask than a chef? On a recent trip to San Juan I seized the opportunity to quiz seven kitchen wizards  – all headliners at the city’s annual oceanfront food festival, Saborea Puerto Rico  – on the places where they love to chow down; the local delicacy you simply can’t leave island without eating; and the one thing you have to try on their own menus. Here, from tostones to top sirloin, are their picks. Check ‘em out, and save the date for the next Saborea yum fest, scheduled for April 2015.

Susie Jimenez

Visiting chef Jiminez’ multi-culti background (Mexico-born, California-raised, living in Aspen and Houston) informs the cuisine at Houston’s Trenza.

Favorite Restaurant: I’ve been invited to eat at all the headlining chefs’ places, but La Jaquita Baya ((www.facebook.com/lajaquitabaya) was a standout.

Puerto Rico Must-EatPasteles (plantain mash stuffed with meat, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed) are the Puerto Rican take on Mexican Tamales. I loved chef Efrain Cruz’ version at the Intercontinental San Juan.

Must-Order at My Place: Our mixed seafood ceviche features chunky vegetables tossed in lemon, lime and orange juices, and is served with a jalapeno mousse.


1 of 7
Popular Posts cape santa maria

From Anguilla to Aruba, the Best Caribbean Beaches to Visit This Summer

Forget the Hamptons, forget Santorini. And Florida? There’s a reason snowbirds go home in the summer. If you’re looking for a summertime beach getaway, the Caribbean is it. The water is deliciously warm, the trade winds keep you cool and […]


From Belize to Grenada, 10 Little Caribbean Beach Resorts to Visit Right Now 

karibuni

There are different resorts for different vacations, different tastes, different moods. For some, there’s something delicious about a pint-sized, tiny Caribbean resort, where the emphasis is on the intimate, the serene. Where the soundtrack isn’t a piped-in DJ set, but […]


The Winners of the 2024 Caribbean Green Awards 

caribbean green

With almost 20,000 votes, the winners of the Caribbean Green Awards 2024 Presented by E-Finity have been crowned.  From state-of-the-art marine conservation projects to hotels that are redefining sustainability, the Green movement has never been stronger in the Caribbean.  “This […]


Related Posts ian fleming villa with beach and green trees

In Jamaica, the Travel Boom Continues 

A tourism renaissance that began largely in the summer of 2021 in Jamaica is showing no signs of abating. That’s what the latest numbers show about the high-profile Caribbean destination.  So faro this year, Jamaica has welcomed 1.7 million visitors, […]


The Dominican Republic's Top Tennis Tournament Is Back 

casa de campo tennis

It’s the most legendary tennis tournament in the Caribbean: the long-running International Tennis Tournament at the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo resort.  This year will be the 44th annual edition of the event, which runs from June 27 to June […]


JetBlue Is Launching Flights to a New Caribbean Island From New York 

blue beach with palm trees

JetBlue is launching flights to a new Caribbean destination out of the all-important New York market, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned.  It’s a massive lift for a destination that has always been one of the most under-the-radar getaways in the […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You