{"id":7017,"date":"2019-10-22T02:54:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T02:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/?p=7017"},"modified":"2019-10-25T18:04:26","modified_gmt":"2019-10-25T18:04:26","slug":"road-trip-five-restaurants-outside-san-juan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2019\/10\/road-trip-five-restaurants-outside-san-juan.html","title":{"rendered":"Road Trip! Five Restaurants To Visit Outside San Juan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Puerto Rico is currently going through a culinary renaissance. Every chef I speak with on the island talks about going back to their roots when it comes to recipes and ingredients. There’s a renewed sense of pride in our traditional dishes. This is not only seen in San Juan but throughout “la isla.” Leave the capital and check out these restaurants outside San Juan-not only will you indulge in a delicious meal but you will also get a side of Puerto Rico that many visitors do not get to see.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Restaurants<\/a>
Estela in Rincon, Puerto Rico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Estela\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Located in the surf town of Rincon, Estela is a quaint restaurant where the food is the protagonist. Chef Abel Mendoza grew up in the neighboring town of A\u00f1asco. Form Australia to Peru to New York City, Chef Mendoza has lived and worked throughout the world. A few years ago, he decided to return to Puerto Rico and became the executive chef and partner at Estela. Their menu changes every day-with the date stamped on the menu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We started our meal with a colorful rum and passion fruit cocktail. We began our culinary journey with an arra\u00f1ita<\/em> (grated plantain) paired with a salad made with local greens. We then indulged in longaniza (sausage) made in-house over a mash of root vegetables. I will not give more away because I want you to a. drive to Rincon and b. not spoil the surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Estela, Road 115 KM 14, Rincon, Puerto Rico. Call 787-823-1795 for reservations<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a>Chefs Creations<\/span><\/h2>\n

As a southerner (of Puerto Rico), Ponce will always have a special place in my heart. The colonial architecture, the colorful Plaza Las Delicias, and La Guancha make it one of my favorite cities in Puerto Rico. A restaurant that is worth the trip is Chefs Creations by Chef Jorge Rivera. The dining room is in an enclosed patio where you have the view of the kitchen where you can catch a glimpse of the chef doing his magic with his wood-fired oven.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chef Jorge Rivera sources a lot of his menu items locally, especially from the Plaza de Mercado de Ponce (the town’s market). His menu often changes as he goes by the ingredients that he finds. I still think about the guanimes (dumplings made out of cornmeal) topped with stewed codfish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chef’s Creations, 100 Calle Reina, Ponce\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n


\n