Sipping Rum South of the Border

The roots of today’s Puerto Rican cuisine are strongly influenced by the United States, but it’s clear this beach-side city has a cooking style of it’s own. We visited the city a few months ago and dove into all the fantastic colors and foods Puerto Rico is known for.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, the craving for a smooth and sweet drink hit us and it hit us hard. We checked into the hotel, bellied up to the bar and ordered a Pina Colada. The bartender told us that the our beverage of choice was invented in Puerto Rico in 1954 at a luxury beach side hotel.

Ramon “Monchito” Marrero was the name of the mastermind behind the drink. He began serving up his sweet concoctution of rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice while he worked at the hotel. Since then, the citizens of San Juan have never stopped sipping and have never looked back.

After a round of Pina Coladas, we visited Punto de Vista, a restaurant known for casual dining and excellent seafood. Before we even sat down to eat, we were guided upstairs to a rooftop patio overlooking the city. The patio was packed with locals and tourists. I knew I had found a good spot.

I was thrilled when the menu announced that tonight’s special would be red snapper. The fish, known for its moist texture and fresh taste, would be topped with sauteed bell peppers and glazed in a lemon, butter, garlic sauce. When the waiter brought it to our table, it was served alongside white rice and homemade salsa.

My mouth waterered, my eyes stared and I dug in as fast as I could. I bit into the the snapper’s sweet flesh and a faded San Juan smile poured across my lips. I was content, but I knew it wouldn’t be long until my stomach rumbled again.

For the second course, we ordered a plate full of mussels, complete with toasted garlic bread and seafood broth. These plump little bites were ready to fill us with pleasure and enjoyed each one more than the next.

If you plan on visiting San Juan or any other cities in Puerto Rico, make sure to visit Punto de Vista. The rooftop patio has incredible views of sunsets and city streets. The food is affordable and the portions are huge. It’s delicious and exciting experiences like these that make me crave one more bite.