first CULINARY FESTIVAL, SABOREA PUERTO RICO, to be held in THE gastronomic CAPITAl of the caribbean

Top Chefs Will Showcase the Island’s Traditional and Fusion Cuisine in San Juan

from April 4-6, 2008

San Juan, Puerto Rico (February 27, 2008) --  The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) announced today its sponsorship of the first annual culinary festival, Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza, to be held on the blue flag beach of Isla Verde in San Juan from April 4-6, 2008.  The festival, hosted by the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association (PRHTA), will celebrate Puerto Rico’s renowned culinary traditions and will give epicureans the chance to sample the delectable dishes prepared by some of the island’s, and the world’s, most renowned chefs.

“We are proud to announce San Juan’s first annual culinary festival, Saborea, being held on the gorgeous Isla Verde Beach.  The festival will bring together prominent chefs, sommeliers and epicureans and will allow foodies from around the world to sample the rich flavors of our island, which date back to pre-Hispanic times,” stated Terestella González Denton, Executive Director of PRTC.

Saborea Puerto Rico, a beach-front and weekend-long celebration, will include demo kitchens, signature events, wine seminars, kids’ kitchens and a Tasting Pavilion, all available to ticket holders.  Over 18 chefs from Puerto Rico and abroad and 32 Puerto Rican restaurants have been confirmed thus far, with more on the way.  Chefs and celebrities include the Food Network’s Ingrid Hoffman, Michel Richard (Citronelle, Washington D.C.), Augusto Schreiner (Augusto’s, Puerto Rico), Giovanna Huyke (Puerto Rican celebrity chef) and Bon Appétit’s wine and spirits consultant, Steve Olson.  Epicureans can learn more about the festival and buy tickets by visiting www.SaboreaPuertoRico.com.  As an added incentive, when passes are purchased with MasterCard, visitors will receive an instant, $15 discount (offer ends March 15, 2008). Furthermore, participating restaurants will be extending discounts and special offers to all foodies on the island.  These include the traditional Ajili Mojili in the Condado area, the newly opened Strip House at the Condado Plaza Hotel, and all of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company approved Mesones Grastronomicos (gastronomic inns).

Clarisa Jiménez, President and CEO of PRHTA added, “The Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association is elated to co-sponsor the Saborea festival, a groundbreaking festival for the island, which ultimately will drive tourism and showcase some of the great hotel properties and their restaurants in and around San Juan.”

Over the last several years, Puerto Rican chefs, such as the famous Wilo Benet, have spearheaded a Puerto Rican-fusion culinary trend, blending traditional Puerto Rican flavors and dishes with international cuisines, producing flavors found nowhere else in the world.  These flavors can be sampled in San Juan at restaurants, such as Panza (Chateau Cervantes Hotel), Pikayo (Puerto Rico Art Museum), and at the recently opened Budatai in Condado.  Undoubtedly, Puerto Rico’s capital holds many culinary experiences to satisfy even the most discerning palate, all of which can be experienced at the Saborea Culinary festival in April.

Barbara Mari, Executive Producer of Saborea concluded, “Saborea is a major stepping stone in placing Puerto Rico on the world’s culinary map.  Our food, much like the island, is a unique fusion of various ingredients and traditions, which embodies the true spirit of Puerto Rico.”

To book travel to Puerto Rico, visit www.GoToPuertoRico.com or call (800) 866-7827. And remember, for travel between Puerto Rico and the United States, No Passport Is Required, so you can pack up and go now!

About the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC)

 The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry.  It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations.  PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

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