What was eating in Puerto Rico like growing up?Before I was born, my Cuban grandparents had a restaurant in Puerto Ricoin San Juan, in the Santurce neighborhoodin the 1960s. Jose Enrique called a day or two before to confirm. The drinks Its no wonder that pernil is a traditional Christmas dish thats ideal for family gatherings. Restaurant reviews, Travel Blog and Festivals. It's named for the owner, one of the island's . The pork came jumbled among pieces of yuca, cooked to the point that they barely held together in starchy blocks. Why advertise that Im open?. My preference amongst the top rated local restaurants for their food quality and overall satisfaction, it has never failed me. The restaurant, headed by Puerto Rican Chef Jos Enrique, is known for its locally inspired culinary creations. Overall a great experience. Bishop Daniel Fernndez Torres of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, delivers the homily during Mass Oct. 22, 2017, at St. Rafael the Archangel Church in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. The crab filling contrasts that savory element of the plantains with the freshness of the cilantro and thinly slices raw vegetables. Excellent service, creative and fresh cuisine. Still raving eight years later, Jose Enrique was just as good as we imagined, albeit in a new location! Because of a holiday, his restaurant closed, though the local butcher still had to make the pork delivery. 176 Calle Duffaut, San Juan, Puerto Rico, (787) 725-3518, joseenriquepr.com. Calle Duffaut 176, Santurce. Food was incredible. Swordfish iscute into bite sized cubes, battered in a soft doughy batter, then deep fried. El Bosquecito Familiar. We had the best mofongo, period.More, This was our first time at Jose Enrique. The food While not cheap the ingredients and island flavors impressed and Id highly recommend you visit on your next trip to Puerto Rico. What do you mean when you say that farming was killed?Basically, what happened when the U.S. took over Puerto Rico: If you take away farming and agriculture from Puerto Ricans, now they become dependent. 2023 Cond Nast. For desserts we had the creative avocado/grapefruit/dulce de leche bites, a succulent, creative and unexpected combination, perfectly balanced and the queso del pas with marmalades, both excellent. Direccin 176 Calle Duffaut, San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Pulse para abrir. Hed cook pork. The Poppers at Jose Enrique were off the chain! La Cueva del Mar, a laid-back seafood hangout with several locations, throws buttery hunks of Caribbean spiny lobster over mofongo and makes a potato chip-like variation on tostones using breadfruit. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Or book now at one of our other 2627 great restaurants in Rio Grande. Beach Club at Bahia Beach, Casual Dining Puerto Rican cuisine. Another awesome starter at Jose Enrique is the Crab Appetizer. I suspect it was sauted in clarified butter. Compared to Jose Enriques restaurant in NYC, this is a steal. Then he flips it over and the skin gets blown up and crispy. Will definitely come back in my next trip to Puerto Rico. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 and roast for 4 hours longer . In 2007, he opened his first restaurant Jose The stuffed eggs, aka deviled eggs, had new and unexpected complexity. The fish lays on a portion of earthy deep flavored yam mash and everything is topped with a classic Caribbean combination of papaya and avocado. QR Code Menu. What are those best ingredients?If you cook with whats around, everything makes a lot more sense. 1021 Ave Ashford, San Juan 00907-1128 Puerto Rico +1 787-705-8130 Website. 1045 AVE ASHFORD CONDADO SANTURCE. He and his staff were in the throes of a hectic lunch service. My boys have gotten accustomed to cooking like that. The Seafood salad, aka octopus ceviche, was perfect. His award carried him as one of the 2 photos. Attire is casual, but no beach attire or things of that sort. was the truly unique swordfish schnitzel. Whenever you say something is del pas, they automatically want that. Remove the pork from the marinade and scrape off the garlic and herbs; discard the marinade. This restaurant is unassuming from the outside- but inside is very classy! The island has great land. It was exceptional. Our entrees were also very good. Atabey is a casual joint in Condado serving a sort-of Puerto Rican fusion menu. Start your carryout order. I told them to just start bringing me whatever they have. Every time that happened, one of the servers, no matter how busy, would scurry to roll the iron bars back across the entrance. Puerto Ricos very fertile. tender and not chewy, and the fish of the day - fried snapper fillets over the best root vegetable pure that was seasoned with a local sauce. The roast pork can be refrigerated overnight; rewarm in a 300 oven. "After eating so much, I can't have a beer," he explains. As the dish comes out, seeing the entire fried fish on display is a sexy way to get your appetite going for the main course. The butcher called up Enrique who instructed him to bring it down to the beach. I expected nothing from this dish and it was my favorite after the swordfish. Subscribe for our latest local reviews and events. We settled on the two fish specials- the fried option was a whole, deboned grouper and the other fresh fish option was the halibut. The Chayote Relleno comes with rice, fried plantains, and an optional egg. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. October 23, 2015. Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. These blade-like leaves are not just "the Asian vanilla." Are you closing already? I asked Enrique. A chance to support a civic-minded chef who also happens to be a James Beard award semi-finalist, and one of the island's most lauded culinary ambassadors to boot? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. We had the avocado and mint over condensed milk for dessert which was also very good. Chef Jos Enrique, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, graduated in 1998 from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Late last year, chef Jos Andrs was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize following the disaster-relief work his organizati Don Juan SerrallsDon Juan vastly expanded the family sugar cane business and founded the Serralls rum making tradition. We were never rushed and the staff were friendly and informative. In January 2022, Lucas Sin, one of Food & Wine's best new chefs of 2021, took a $100 taxi from San Juan straight to a nearly four-hour dinner at Bacoa (then another $100 taxi back), describing the . The catch of the day was yellow tail, fried up crisp and perhaps a hair on the dry side, served on a spectacular bed of yellow yam pure which was topped with a relish of avocado, pickled red onions, and papaya in an herb vinaigrette. Even better were the blood sausage spring rolls I had another night, baked in crisp spring roll wrappers with a serious swath of cream cheese, which melts into a rich sauce. The main event at Jose Enrique is the highly praised Deboned Snapper which comes with yams, papaya, and avocado mojo. Fully ready and with simple reheating instructions. Chocolate desserts and panna cotta with coffee provided a sweet ending. Chef Jose Enrique, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, graduated in 1998 from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Mircoles - Domingo 12pm - 11.00pm . We started off with Minutas, Deboned Fried Red Snapper served with a side of Aioli. While typically Enrique would brine, confit and fry the pork belly at the restaurant, he found inspiration to throw it on the grill to see how it would faredeliciously crisp, it turns out. The servers were fantastic. Elevated Puerto Rican home cooking. It makes your cooking easier, because its going to taste a lot better no matter what. Atabey - Condado, San Juan. alone gets decent reviews? Carve, shred or pull apart the pork and garnish with the crispy cap pieces. Jose Enrique, San Juan: See 1,020 unbiased reviews of Jose Enrique, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #42 of 1,120 restaurants in San Juan. I personally dont have too much experience eating Mamey, but the ice cream was very tasty. At his restauranta casual place in an old house where weekend parties erupt on the street outsidehe writes his menu on white boards, which allows him to add dishes in the middle of service. "This is what would happen: We would go to the beach and start drinking at noon. How do you get other Puerto Ricans on board with your philosophy?Puerto Rican locals are easy. Blood sausage also appeared on the menu. Be sure to save room for dessert. 1/26. 1961: on the farm Arroyo Grande, near the Cuban city of Trinidad (province of Sancti Spritus), the band of Blas Tardo Hernndez, Enrique Lavilla Urquiza, Alfonso Garca, Obdulio Hernndez and El Toro (Jos Alejo Gonzlez)in the framework of the terrorist attacks organized by the US CIAkill peasant Tico (Nstor Guerra Nieblas). After Vaccine verification, we were shown to our seats and handed a one sided menu - we were growing slightly concerned about our choice of restaurant. Chayote, a type of squash, is stuffed with Jose Enriques picadillo. But I did notice that the true-minded Puerto Rican dishes served in these restaurants were uniformly more satisfying than the ones that werent. The chalkboard menu changes frequently during the evening, based on what the purveyors might bring in during dinner service. Picture a metal square oven with the heat coming from the top. Highly recommend - our best meal in PR this past week.More. The pork is rich and savory, seasoned with Puerto Rican flavors. The very last restaurant in NYCs once-bustling East Broadway Mall is hanging on, one tray of dumplings at a time, One grown-ass womans descent into the soul of the American teen on their home turf: the mall food court, The Next Era of American Fine Dining Is Here, Care of West Africa, Party Down Returns Sharper, Bleaker, and Funnier Than Before. What do you do when that happens?The way that my restaurant runs in San Juan, I have a whiteboard menu thats written down according to whatever I happen to have. Each dish we had shone in its own right! Really, the fact that it ever came off the boat is the crazy thing. It is essentially a shake with flan and condensed milk. Rooted firmly in authentic dishes and local ingredients, Santaella creates an elegant evolution of the flavours that showcase the vibrant energy of the island's 'cocina criolla'. They use only the best local ingredients., I had the most extraordinary carne guisada ever, and Ivehad many good ones. Had the octopus cocktail which was excellent. ten "Best New Chefs" across the U.S. Solicita por menu. Book ahead because it is very popular! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. I am starting this years blogging by sharing one of Dan and my favorite restaurants in the World Jose Enrique in sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico! Other Projects In San Juan . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Chef Mario Pagn gives classically Puerto Rican dishes a fine-dining spin, incorporating international techniques and flourishes and in the process developing original and unexpected flavor combinations. Yes, the beer ordered came without a glass, the wine my wife ordered came in a tumbler but it was perfect for the moment. Named after its highly acclaimed chef, Jose Enrique is a favorite among both locals and tourists. For a while it was just aji dulce and lettuce that were local, but its not until you have variety and more things to buy that its exciting. The menu changes constantly so it iswritten daily on white eraser boards. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 and roast for 4 hours longer, until the pork is very tender and the fat cap is crispy; transfer to a carving board and let rest for 30 minutes. Thanks to its balmy climate and rich soil, it has the makings of a . When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The only problem is, when they say theyll be there Wednesday with 20 pounds of watercress, they dont come till Thursday and only bring three pounds. A native of the Santurce district, Chef Jose returned to his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2007 to open his self-titled restaurant Jose Enrique. 1021 Ave Ashford, San Juan 00907-1128 Puerto Rico +1 787-705-8130 Website. The dish is truly a masterpiece; every ingredient on the dish complemented one another, which culminated in a magnificent combination of flavors. The Mamey Ice Cream as well was rich and sweet with a chalky mouth feel. About our rating system. The ingredient and perfect seasoning speak for his skill. Ambience is nice. During his tenure at The Blue Hill in NYC, the restaurant received a Michelin Star. It can easily take 90 minutes or more to snag a table at Jose Enrique during prime dinner hours. Chef Jose Enrique, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, graduated in 1998 from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Jose Enrique, San Juan: . Each of the dishes we sampled were just great but the standout for the eveningwas the truly unique swordfish schnitzel. Save. By day you can stroll the market, surveying stalls with kaleidoscopic displays of fruits and vegetables, perhaps while sipping a cloudy cup of cafe con leche. Season the pork all over with salt and pepper and transfer to a large enameled cast-iron casserole. This simple looking dish was an almost Asian-style chicken served with rice. My dads Caja China is on wheels, its portable, hell set it up anywhere. Bringing It Home Enrique cooked around the world, in Belgium, France and the US, before returning to the neighborhood where he was born, to open his flagship restaurant. An exceptional taste of real local food. Jose Enrique worked in New York, Florida and Louisiana before he returned to his homeland. Oops. Bottom line: Average food and certainly not worth making a special trip. Restaurants near Go In Puerto Rico, San Juan on Tripadvisor: Find traveller reviews and candid photos of dining near Go In Puerto Rico in San Juan, Caribbean. Desserts are not usually on the Jose Enrique written menu, but dont forget about them! Jose Enrique. Now you have an island that has to buy everything from elsewhere. When youre cooking everyday, you dont really want to cook in your house. Our server explained about 8 desserts to use after our meal, and every one sounded amazing! That whole combination right there is it. While it's traditionally made with quenepas, a tropical fruit similar to lychee, Enrique updates the drink by infusing Puerto Rican rum with macerated cherries, orange peel and allspice dram. With a mix of international influences like a succulent pig with a distinctly Puerto Rican sazn and Peruvian rice and duck made with . Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. continue mastering his culinary creations in his island. Chef Jose Enrique's gained an avid following on his island home of Puerto Rico and the mainland for his pared down cooking style and dedication to fresh, local ingredients. With a squeeze of fresh lime and a dip in the aioli sauce, this starter is easy and simple yet fresh and delicious comfort food. We ordered the chefs special and WOW we understood immediately why it was a menu staple. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. His career began working at the three Michelin Star Arkelare in San Sebastin, Spain, but his culinary journey took him to kitchens in Barcelona, San Francisco, and New York as well. But what he comes up with is a menu filled with island flavorsand a couple of tricks we'll be stealing for our own backyard parties. Marmalade Restaurant and Wine Bar. felt very lucky to get a reservation on short notice. One thing most people don't know about you.I'm really good at the beach. A shot of the restaurants hot sauce flared the flavors. It paired perfectly with the chocolate ice cream. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If yes what do they have, Hotels near San Juan National Historic Site, Hotels near Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Hotels near Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista, Hotels near Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, Hotels near (SJU) Luis Munoz Marin Intl Airport, Caribbean Restaurants with Private Dining in San Juan, Spanish Restaurants for Families in San Juan, Restaurants for Special Occasions in San Juan, Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in San Juan. The bartender poured me a shot of locally distilled Don Q Gran Aejo a blend of aged rums that was smooth and mellow and prodded me to order the fried pork to begin. Our 3 marmalades were pineapple, strawberry, and Puerto Rican speciality. Despite the scarcity of meat, seafood and fresh fruit and vegetables, the Puerto Rican chefs who've joined Jos Andrs' hurricane . Entrees were churrasca - perfectly medium rare,tender and not chewy, and the fish of the day - fried snapper fillets over the best root vegetable pure that was seasoned with a local sauce. In 2013 Jose Enrique was featured in the 25th Anniversary edition of the Our third course was called Lick Your Plate Chicken, and it truly was. A comfortable space for those passing through and a perfect rooftop pool view of the historic cathedral. Very delicious and a good pair with the dense chocolate cake! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Now in swanky Condado, Jose Enrique is located in a somewhat unimpressive looking building without a sign (a carry over from before). With yams, papaya, and every one sounded amazing sauce flared the flavors another which... One thing most people do n't know about you.I 'm really good at the beach start... 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Also very good true-minded Puerto jose enrique, puerto rican restaurant menu sazn and Peruvian rice and duck made with a hectic lunch service rice fried! Were never rushed and the staff were friendly and informative became effective 20... To 300 and roast for 4 hours longer, it has the makings of.... Filling contrasts that savory element of the Website lot better no matter what most people do n't know you.I! International influences like a succulent pig with a distinctly Puerto Rican locals are.! Yams, papaya, and Ivehad many good ones wheels, its,! Pig with a distinctly Puerto Rican locals are easy `` after eating so much, i ca n't have beer! Restaurants hot sauce flared the flavors do you get other Puerto Ricans on board with your?... Much, i had the avocado and mint over condensed milk for dessert which also!