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 drawn to the variety of dishes coming out of the kitchen, but we were there to make mofongo, one of the most famous Puerto Rican dishes. I started out with a cocktail of rum and soursop juice, and the class began. You start by crushing chicharrones (fried pork skins) in a pilon, a wooden mortar and pestle. You then transfer the crushed chicharrones to your plate. Next, add the plantains, a little garlic and butter, and crush the mixture. Make a pocket in the center, and add your roasted pork. I could have been happy with the pork alone, which was incredibly flavorful. Top the pork with the crushed chicharrones, and unmold, accompanied by rice and beans. It was incredibly filling, but there were two more stops to make.
Stop #2: Beermosa and More Pork at La Taberna Lupulo
Our second food stop was at La Taberna Lupulo, located at 151 Calle de San Sebastián. The tavern offers an incredible beer selection, with many choices on tap. We were there for a “beermosa,” a blend of beer and orange juice, and a spiced pork sandwich. I could happily spend the entire day here.
Stop #3: Ceviche at the Palacio Provincial Hotel
Our third food stop was at the Consular Restaurant & Bar at the Palacio Provincial Hotel. The restaurant is located in a lovely open-air courtyard, filled with tropical plants and flowers. A little more rum, and a lovely ceviche of mahi mahi marinated in passionfruit juice, accompanied by root vegetable chips, rounded out the afternoon.
There is a bit of walking, so wear some comfortable sandals or shoes, and schedule a tour. It’s a lovely way to see (and taste) the wonderful city of Old San Juan.
More posts on our trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico can be found here.