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new dinning alternatiVes in condado
The Condado Ocean Club provides new dinning alternatives
Monthly events are designed to impress the most discerning palates
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Juan A. Hernández The Weekly Journal
How many times have you looked for “something different” than your basic “dinner and a movie” weekly outing or date?
Look no more. As part of its new year’s calendar of events, the Condado Ocean Club Hotel has designed a series of monthly culinary experiences that pair food with exquisite wines and liquors to impress the most discerning palates. The SOCIAL Gastro Series, hosted by the hotel’s
SOCIAL Restaurant, is a monthly event where the menu is inspired on international cuisines and flavors, and will be accompanied by an exclusive list of wines selected by Master Sommelier Will Costello. The first event of the SOCIAL Gastro Series will be a five-course dinner with a first entrée consisting of a cauliflower crème with truffles oil and focaccia accompanied by a glass of Miquel
Pons Cava Gran Reserva Brut Nature, 2015, followed by a mache salad with Manchego cheese, green apple bourbon and toasted nuts that can be accompanied by Kinsy Bien Nacido Pinot Blanc
Santa Maria Valley, 2019 or a Miller Family Optik
Chardonnay (Block N.11), 2019. The third course will be a red wine risotto and beets, with whipped goat’s milk and chives, along with a glass of Kinsy Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
Santa Maria Valley, 2018, or a
Miller Family Optik Pinot Noir (Block 42B), 2019. The main course will be a
New Zealand’s grass-fed beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and leeks in a Port sauce and crisp shallots, accompanied by a
Miller Family Optik Syrah (Block 49A), 2019 or a Bien Nacido La XO
Reserva Syrah Valle Santa Maria, 2018. Dessert - chocolate cake and truffles with cashews and honey, apricot gel and coconut ice cream - will be served alongside a glass of Mont-Rubí Gaintus Sobremaduro, 2016. This first edition of the SOCIAL Gastro Series is scheduled for tomorrow, January 27th at 7:00pm. It has a cost of $165 per person (taxes and gratuity not included).
The Japanese Influence
A second monthly event are the Omakase dinners, hosted by the Jade Whiskey Bar. Stemming from rich Japanese tradition, the word omakase means “I leave it up to you.” So, in this context, dishes are left to the chef’s culinary knowledge and expertise, and are usually subjected to the ingredients’ taste, availability (seasonality) and cost. In his book The Story of Sushi, academic and writer Trevor Corson states, “[Omakase is] what the sophisticated customer says to the chef when settling down at the sushi bar.” Sushi connoisseurs seldom order off a menu. The first Omakase dinner at Jade will be prepared by Chef Ramón Cruz and will consist of 10 courses made with wine and whiskey. Even though omakase refers mainly to sushi, other dishes, such as salads, tempura and soups will find their way in this
In fact,
Omakase means “I leave it up dining experience. Guests must be prepared to be to you.” So, in this surprised. context, dishes are Entertainment for the evening will be provided left to the chef’s by saxophonist Janice Maisonet culinary knowledge The first Omakase dinner will be next Friday, and expertise. January 28, at 7:00pm and seating is limited for only 10 guests. It has a cost of $225 per person (taxes and gratuity not included). “The hotel has taken all necessary precautions and is in compliance with all sanitary regulations to guarantee its guests welfare,” said Condado Ocean Club’s general manager Albert Charbonneau. Those participating in these events must present must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
El Portal de El Yunque has 6,200 square feet of office space and collaborative workrooms, conference rooms, stockroom, partnermanaged store, restaurant, movie theater, an exhibition pavilion, and a hall for social and/ or corporate events.
El Portal del Yunque reopens
focusing on collaborative management
Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal resources, and will serve as a collaboration and meeting hub among partners inside and outside El Yunque.
“The Forest Service at El Portal will now provide education and engagement opportunities for the public, and our partners will leverage the space to improve our communities’ social well-being. This is the Caribbean’s premier visitor & community center; we would love for all Boricuas to come experience it”, said Forest Supervisor Keenan Adams.
A Whole New Experience
Partner organizations will have different roles in the new operation. Vitrina Solidaria will manage the co-working space; Fundación Amigos de El Yunque will coordinate and promote events and educational activities, and Eastern National will manage the entrance station and the store. With El Portal’s reopening, the U.S. Forest Service will also premier a movie showing visitors distinctive aspects of the forest, its ecosystems, and its
historical legacy. Puerto Rican filmmaker María Falcón directed the production and Academy Award winning actor Benicio Del Toro narrates the English version and collaborates in the Spanish version, narrated by actress Cordelia González. “I feel proud to be part of the effort of this group. We inherited a legacy of reverence and respect for El Yunque that unites all Puerto Ricans and connects After almost four and a half years since the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria and a $20 million investment of federal In fact, us to the rest of the world,” said Del Toro. Before it closed in 2017, more than 600,000 people visited El Portal each year. Based on those statistics, it is estimated El Portal could generate as much as $3,000,000 during a regular tourism year. Revenues are expected to cover operation and maintenance costs for the first year. funds, El Portal de El Yunque reopened last week to renew It is estimated the interest in the exploration El Portal could and discovery of the only generate as much as tropical rain forest under the $3M during a regular U.S. jurisdiction. tourism year.
Closed since 2017, the renewed visitor center now showcases new interactive exhibits, artworks, accessible trails and interpretative panels in Spanish and English to promote the conservation of natural
