Evening Dinner in Cayey at Viviana’s Parents

We started off the evening with our introductions and our individual food contribution. There were so many different types of food –From Butterscotch chocolate crunch (Thomas) to Pork Crackling (Simone) to my Candied Papaya to Brenda’s Coconut Rum Balls and on and on……..Everyone shared a bit of history about themselves and/or what brought them to CulinaryCorp. I thought everyone’s stories were fascinating. A couple of them were actually tear jerkers…..(Yea, call me a mush !)

Vivian’s Parent’s were the greatest. Their home sits on one of the many mountains of Cayey in the southern portion of the island. It was a relaxing secluded ranch with a wrap around deck. We ate dinner outside on the deck and what a banquet did they have prepared for us. There were starters pastelillos (turnovers) de guava y carne, morcilla (blood sausage), longanisa (spanish pork sausage, rellenos de papa y apio (potato and celery root(?) balls stuffed with meat). Then there were fried plantains, arroz con gandules, chicken stew, white rice, pasteles, roast pork and candied yellow plantains. To finish it off. Tembleque (resembles a panna cotta) and some island black coffee.

Great Food, Hosts, Chefs, Convo, and Drink !!!! A great kick off to an incredible week !!!

Responding from Blackberry

Guavate

So today I met the Team and what agreat group of Chef. We are so different as far as our backgrounds and experiences but we have our Goal in common.

We are on the way to Viviana’s Parent’s home for a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas Feast. We stopped in the town of Guavate and visited Lechonera El Mojito. Basically a Roast Pork joint.

The picture attached was taken at El Mojito. There is a pig on a roasting spit in the background.

Believe me when I say Yum Yum !!!

Responding from Blackberry