As part of this year’s North American Travel Journalists Conference in Puerto Rico, we were guests at a food tour of Old San Juan by Spoon, Authentic Culinary Experiences and Food Tours. Spoon offers a variety of tours, from cocktail tours around Old San Juan to cooking classes in private homes. Our guide, Lorna, walked with us around the streets of San Juan, pointing out historic places and other points of interest, as we set out to eat and drink our way around the city. Stop #1: Mofongo at Deaverdura The first of our three stops was Deaverdura, located at 200 Sol Street. It was hard not to be…
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A visit to Puerto Rico would be incomplete without a trip to Casa Bacardí. Bacardí is the world’s largest privately-owned spirits company. The Bacardí spirit family includes Bacardí, Grey Goose, Patrón and Bombay Sapphire, to name a few. Bacardí is not just a brand name – it’s a family name. Bacardí was founded in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó in Santiago de Cuba. In the 1930’s, a distillery was built in Puerto Rico. Just shy of the company’s 100th anniversary, the Bacardí holdings in Cuba were seized by the government. Luckily, the family had moved the company’s trademarks and yeast strain out of Cuba before their assets were confiscated,…
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On our last day in Puerto Rico, we decided to explore a bit more of Old San Juan, but first, we needed to fuel up with a great breakfast. After a bit of searching, we came upon a great spot in Old San Juan, La Carreta Mercado Local. La Carreta has two locations in San Juan. The one in Old Town is located at 279 Luna Street, which was an easy walk from our starting point at Plaza Colon (a four-minute walk per Google Maps). I started off with a double cortadito, and then looked over the menu. You can view it yourself online here. I opted for the Bandeja…
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On our first and last days in Puerto Rico, we treated ourselves to dinner at La Central by Mario Pagan. I have to admit that I selected it originally because it was the best-rated restaurant open on a Monday night, the day we arrived. It seems that chefs take Monday off, so it was the best option at the time. However, the incredible food and service brought us back again. La Central is the latest restaurant of Chef Mario Pagan, opening in June of 2021. Chef Pagan draws his inspiration from his home country’s cuisine with a clever spin. It started with the cocktail menu. I could not resist the…
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We’re just back from our trip to Puerto Rico last week for the NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association) conference, held May 2 through 6. I have downloaded my memory cards and will be sending my film off to the lab in the morning. So stay tuned for posts on our trip, including an Old San Juan Walking Food Tour with Lorna from Spoon tours, a VIP tour at Bacardí Rum, historical sites including the San Juan National Historic Site, and much more. Start exploring posts from our trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico here.
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Located at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean island chain, the country of Grenada is actually three islands, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique. Grenada is known as “The Spice Island” for the abundance of spices which are grown on the island. Grenada is the second largest producer of nutmeg, second only to Indonesia. Grenada is a traveler’s paradise with multiple attractions to appeal to all travelers. Grenada’s offers 45 beaches. Grand Anse Beach is the jewel of the island, often rated as one of the best beaches in the world. Waterfalls are found all over the island where you can take a dip in the cool…
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Enjoy some of the sights and sounds of a day on Grand Anse Beach, Grenada, accompanied by Kevin MacLeod’s “Blue Ska,” available at incompetech.com .
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When writers put together their lists of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Grand Anse Beach in Grenada is on everyone’s list. This two-mile stretch of white sand curving around the “grand cove” with a view of St. George’s is the most beautiful beach on the island and a favorite of visitors. Even on Saturday and Sunday when the beach is buzzing with activity, the beach never feels crowded. A stay at Spice Island Beach Resort means you have this beach at your doorstep. Or come for the day to visit the Spice Island Craft & Spice Market or relax with a cocktail at Umbrellas Beach Bar. Join us for…
