Saborea establishes Puerto Rico as the Gastronomic capital of the Caribbean

Over 4,000 people attended Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza, the most important gastronomic event in the Caribbean. Held Saturday and Sunday at the Carolina Blue Flag Beach in Isla Verde, it featured a distinguished roster of local and international chefs and culinary personalities.

Renowned culinary masters including Augusto Schreiner, Roberto Treviño, Giovanna Huyke, Marisoll Hernández, Wilo Benet, Mario Pagán, Efraín Cruz, Lorelei Carrión, Ariel Rodríguez, Diurka Serrano, Norma Llop, José Muñoz, and Cielito Rosado, among others, combined their talents and shared in cooking demonstrations with chefs Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson, Matthew Gennuso, Michel Richard, Ingrid Hoffman of Food Network, Jacques Torres of Mr. Chocolate New York, and Carmen González, a Puerto Rican chef located in New York. The result was an unprecedented delight for the thousands of guests who took part in the weekend activities.

The success of Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza was so great that on Sunday organizers announced the dates of the second extravaganza, to be held April 24 through 26, 2009, as well as the decision to extend a return invitation to chefs Michel Richard, Ingrid Hoffman and Carmen González.

For his part, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association President of the Board of Directors Rick Newman said, "Puerto Rico prepared the stage to create a tradition of excellence.

"With the combination of our efforts, the private sector, and the government," he added, "a place on the international gastronomic stage was created."

Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza is a Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA) event that was organized to showcase the contributions of the island’s gastronomic sector on tourism development and to elevate local culinary arts to an international level.

Framed by the sea and the tropical beauty of Carolina Beach, in the informal setting of a day at the beach, those who attended the event enjoyed delicious dishes created by chefs from the best restaurants in Puerto Rico, accompanied by wine and liquor seminars and the lovely music of the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra.

Appreciating the delightful combination of elements, both local and international chefs called for a repeat performance of the event next year. Organizers granted their wish by announcing next year's Saborea on the final day.

"There is absolutely no doubt at all that this event was a success and established Puerto Rico as a Gastronomic Capital of the Caribbean. Now our aim is to make Puerto Rico an international gastronomic destination, and this we will do in future extravaganzas," said PRHTA President and Chief Executive Officer Clarisa Jiménez.

"Every year around 60 million people travel specifically to culinary events, which is why events like this are very important in the development of our industry," added Jiménez.

Chef Augusto Schreiner, with the help of Cielito Rosado, was in charge of coordinating all the cooking demonstrations. Seminar speakers included, among others, Steve Olson, wine and liquor consultant to Bon Appétit magazine.

The event was covered by the U.S. and international press, including the New York Daily News, Food & Beverages magazine, Incentives magazine, Meeting News, Latino Perspectiva, the Los Angeles Times, Arizona Republic, 24 Hours Vancouver from Canada, El Dominical of Madrid, Spain, and the Buena Mesa Supplement of Mexico City's Reforma newspaper and Bon Appétit.

Part of the funds collected during the event will go to PRHTA's Educational Fund, used to train, educate, and keep industry employees up to date about the latest tourism trends.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company was the primary sponsor for the event along with Carolina as the host city.