Aguaviva - Puerto Rico

For an island, seafood is not so common in many of the restaurants. Surprisingly, much of it imported. This is where Aguaviva stands apart as it's mainly seafood..

A corner spot in old san Juan across from plaza colon, by day, lay dormant with no activity practically easy to overlook. But set the sun and the boards on the windows come off to reveal a vibrant happening spot that brings everything under the water for consumption.

Enter the small doorway to a blue and green lit interior, the neon jellyfish used as lightning remind you of a scene from the little mermaid:



A rare find, oysters were being served and blue point at that:


Fish selections included a variety of mahi, grouper and ceviches.. Red snapper looked delicious..

The grouper with lobster stew was served on a cornbread and prepared with asparagus. The fish was cooked well and was perfectly topped with the garlic sauce provided for the bread. The cornbread was a little different but still tasty:


The tostones, large plantain chips and side of spinach complimented the dish:






Food was tasty. Wine options limited and much better to stick with the sangria or a mojito...

- Posted from my iPhone

La bombonera- Puerto Rico

Since 1902, La Bombonera has been serving up breakfast and lunch, with a full blown pastry kitchen, it's a white sugar powder wonderland..

No frills, busy diner like, several recommendations suggested the spot. With old word charm, luscious pastries enticing you as you walk in and singing equivalent of mariachi's at sporadic times, we were in for a treat.










The breakfast options were limited.. Basic omelets, and eggs:



But definitely, the off menu Mallorcas, were the reason to come. You must make a special request for them, as they are not listed in the menu, these butter rich croissant type sandwiches, stuffed with your choice of ham, cheese or plain, come out with a year's worth of powder sugar:


Fabulous artery clogging goodies!

The musicians that came by will overpower your conversation with folkloric music:




- Posted from my iPhone

Marmalade - Puerto Rico

If the plantains and the mofongos are becoming routine, a variety of new fusion restaurants have sprung up in old san Juan.

Marmalade is a French Californian fusion modern eatery that offers a little bit of that sex and the city feel in the heart of old town.

Open interior, low lit with accent blue and red lighting, the dining room floor has a perfect balance of tables with high backed chairs to give you that secluded feeling as well as alcoves with closing transparent curtains for a more intimate setting.





Full bar offers brandy spiked sangrias, pineapple mojitos and other specialties such as the kiwi libre:


The service is outstanding. One of the few places where the waiters know the menu and ingredients, you're offered water upfront and the offerings have a variety of flavors to wet the palette.

The mahi ceviche with plantain fritters came out with citrus and tomatoe, chunks of mahi, a tad heavy on the spicy mayo sauce but nonetheless very good:



The white bean soup was outstanding.. The signature soup, purred white bean to a creamy consistency, topped with scallions, truffle oil and pancetta dust!! What a combo of flavors, truly amazing taste:


With a little crostini, could have eaten a whole pot for dinner!

The red snapper cooked in bell peppers and a chorizo tomato sauce was presented in an interesting way. Bagged in a plastic bag to lock in the flavors:


It's unlocked with a pair of searing scissors, to reveal the snapper soaked in the red pepper sauce.. Fantastic:


The grilled asparagus salad with arugula was layered with gorgonzola cheese, plantains and truffle out:


The 4 berry cobbler was dessert of choice.. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries all baked with a vanilla foam, lemon biscuits and mint for garnish:


The brainchild of chef Peter Schintler, Marmalade is bringing flavors and combinations not typically found in PR.. Also for the homesick, great California wine selection!

- Posted from my iPhone

Las Raices- Puerto Rico

Getting to the roots, well at least that's what this cozy restaurant in old san Juan has to offers. With vice bright colors, eclectic ambience and gracious hostesses dressed all in white, you won't find vegetables or salads here.



The colorful interior:








Appetizers included just about everything fried: fried plantains, veggie fritters, fried calamari, and other goodies.

The piniononitos, fried plantain stuffed with meat were semi sweetened bites:


The inner stuffed plantains:


The Tornado dish, skirt steak wrapped around plantains with large shrimp in an onion and mushroom sauce.. Was delicious:


Hungry paws await in the backdrop, steak tornado overflowing indeed... Fabulous..

With tasty bites, the only thing missing was a little cholula! Ironically, hot sauce is not big, and Tabasco is often brought out when requested.. Nonetheless, when walking in old san Juan and the Raices sign presents itself, a good reason to stop by. The crowds are plenty, with the place packed for lunch and dinner, you are either fighting the locals or the cruise ship passerbys!


- Posted from my iPhone

Foods of Puerto Rico

With Latin music playing in the plazas, energy abound even under the light sprinkles of the carribean, the flavors of puerto Rico come alive in very different manifestations.

The classic mofongo, a plantain based bowl made out of smashed plantains and cooked with oil, garlic and stuffed with either chicken, beef, seafood or veggies.

Here shown with chicken in a garlic sauce, served with rice:



Of note, veggies don't grow here naturally, so lots of imported frozen items... Surprisingly, meat is more common than fish and it's usually cheaper!!

The grilled grouper, one of the only local fishes usually comes in a butter or garlic sauce:


Grilled dorado, a hearty white fish also available:


Ordered with a side of plantains or yucca, or sometimes a combo.. Sweet and starchy:


Another specialty, are the asapoas.. A gumbo type of soup with anything you can throw into a bowl.. Rice and chicken, seafood, or shredded meats... Chicken pictured here.. Saffron rich:


Various new entries have made their way to the island. For example, in La Conga hotel, a retro 60s exterior building that is dated, the interior has been remodeled to a modern trendy Miami beach inspired open atmosphere:


Here you can get brandy spiked sangrias :


And basic stables such as burgers and sandwiches.
Ahi tuna sandwich was great, but unfortunately the white enriched breads were also imported!



With flavors of creole, Spanish and African spices, the adventures are just beginning :)

- Posted from my iPhone

La madre- puerto Rico

A local hotspot nestled in the old san Juan on Calle san francisco, La Madre had plenty of vibe and energy, good food and plenty of drink specials.

A cool white interior is splashed with hues if blue, murals and projections of old cartoons.







With $5 margueritas, tamarindo, guayaba, and acercelo ( a PR cherry) are all flavors that should be sampled.

Lettuce wrapped fish tacos were the starter. Battered fish was wrapped with cabbage, carrots and a slight lemon splash, accompanied with a smoked reduction for dipping.. Fantastic.. :


The butterfly chicken, a large Breast of chicken, seared open with mustard and chives, topped with a creamy mustard base sauce, came with a corn based tamale side:



Simple and tasty.

For good bites, lively atmosphere filled with locals and fantastic drink specials, La Madre treats you well.
- Posted from my iPhone

Cafe Berlin- PR

In the inner roads of old San Juan, across the street from plaza Colón, a plaza dedicated with a statue of Christopher Columbus, local cafes line the outer edges. One such establishment is Cafe Berlin, with it's mostly local dishes with a couple of unexpected additions ( ahi-tartare and hummous for one), simple straightforward dishes are available.

The dorado, a white hearty fish, baked in a garlic power sauce, was as island local as you can get:



The carribean salad, with fruits and veggies was nothin spectacular:


However, where they lack in salads, they make up in mojitos! Having run producing factories on the island, fresh line and real sugar makes this classic drink fabulous in the humid and warm weather:


Just in time for the street celebrations:


- Posted from my iPhone

Cafe Puerto Rico- PR

Welcome to the mofongo, a fried plantain dish from puerto Rico. In this quaint Cafe, in the middle of old san Juan with an outdoor seating are overlooking the plaza square, simple solid foods await you.



A mofongo, made with fried green plantains or sometimes yuca, is smashed together with garlic an olive oil and shaped into a bowl. Then it's filled with some stewed meat, chicken or seafood. On this occasion, grilled chicken:


Topped with a semi sweet coco lime sauce, tasty and hearty.

Neighbors handed out appetizers for us to try, cornbread and cheese wedges, similar to Mexican Oaxaca cheese with a light tangy A57 type sauce:


The chicken gumbo, a saffron heavy soup with rice and chicken was great:


Hearty regional food is offered in the colonial city situated Cafe puerto Rico.

- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Puerto Rico

Holiday festivities

The holidays are a great time to enjoy some great meals. From traditional eggnog and baked ham to not so traditional ceviche and tamales, the holidays are a time were the festivities and food coincide..

The starters, shrimp ceviche served on an avocado half:


Tangy lemon and salsa soaked shrimp with avocado makes fr a fantastic appetizer.. It's carb free ceviche!

The rack of lamb, always bone gnawing fun:


All the tender meat, shredded for the grabbing:


Baked artichokes with a little olive oil :


With some garbanzo bean salad and grille asparagus, the veggies are rejoicing in glee:


For dessert, a package arrives:



Quickly torn to reveal the inner goods if chocolate strawberries, coconut covered fruits and nutty offerings:



And voila... Strawberries dipped in white and dark chocolate, covered with hazelnuts and coconut...





- Posted from my iPhone