MI CASA BY JOSE ANDRES

In order to move on, I need to close our Dorado chapter and start our Singapore life so what better way to end than with my final Puerto Rico post on the dinners we had Mi Casa by Jose Andres.   The menu is divided into four parts - Tapas and Antojitos (starters of mostly tapas), To Follow (salads and soups) and Platos Fuertes (main courses) and Simply Prepared (mostly grilled fish or meat).  There is also an option to do Jose's Tapas Experience Menu, an 11-course small plates tasting menu which lets you experience the full flavors of his take on modern Caribbean cuisine.  Some of my favorite Puerto-rican style tapas (moms of which are shown above) were the Bocadillo de lechon (roasted pork belly with chayote mojo and crispy crackling on a soft bun),  ceviche de atun con coco y aguacate (tuna ceviche tossed in coconut milk and topped with fresh avocado and topped with crispy quinoa), cono de queso con lechoza (Canarejal cheese and papaya marmalade stuffed in a crispy mini cone) and the modern take on the Puerto Rican classic - the mallorca, a sweet brioche style powdered sugar coated bread filled usually with ham and cheese and grilled. This version is stuffed with foie gras and mango jam and is a must!  Jose's classic tapas like the croquets de pollo, served in an acrylic shoe as usual, are also present along with the not-to-be-missed jamon Iberico y pan con tomate.  From the main courses, I loved the Rossejat Negra - a Catalan squid ink noodle dish sort of like paella served with Spanish langoustines and the gnocchi de yuca (Yuca gnocchi with hearts of palm and a Puerto Rican style pesto).

Desserts were also a treat from the Tres Leches - a Puerto Rican classic rum and pineapple cake to the arroz con coco - a light Caribbean version of rice pudding flavored with coconut milk and served alongside a tart guava sorbet and finally the tierritas de Puerto Rico - grated chocolate with the texture of soil (tierra is the Spanish word for it) topping homemade cocoa and vanilla ice creams.

In case you though that Mi Casa was a formal fine dining restaurant, they also have a children''s menu filled with kid-friendly dishes (just don't expect nuggets) - there's a peanut butter and guava jelly sandwich on toasted mini-brioche buns,  chicken and béchamel croquettes, mini rib-eye hamburgers with french fries or a simple grilled fish served with yuca puree.  

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Mi Casa by Jose Andres
at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
100 Dorado Beach Drive
Dorado PR 00646
Telephone: +1 787 278 7217
*Open daily for breakfast and dinner.

BREAKFAST AT MI CASA

It's been ages I know and although we moved to Singapore and left Dorado in mid-September, I still need to post about the wonderful breakfast at Mi Casa by Jose Andres at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.  Breakfast is one of my favorite ways to enjoy what a restaurant has to offer.  I figure that if they can't get breakfast right, then why would I even go for dinner.  One of the best ways to enjoy the mooring in Dorado is to sit outside on the terrace of Mi Casa, watch the waves crash to shore and have the first meal of the day al fresco.

 

As the restaurant specializes in Spanish influenced Caribbean cuisine, there are modern touches on Caribbean classics like homemade guava jelly, a banana and rum muffin, passion fruit or pineapple flavored yoghurt and even Jose Andres' arroz a la Cubana - fried rice served with crispy pork belly, plantains and a crispy battered poached egg.  You can also have classic croissants and pains au chocolat, the Spanish breakfast classic pan con tomato y jam on Iberico, waffles, pancakes and a frothy concoction that is the specialty Eggs Benedict.  Whatever you do, don't expect something new and done with a twist because that's what breakfast a la Jose Andres is going to be like and as you sip that Puerto Rican coffee and listen to the waves, remember that you are in Puerto Rico.

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Mi Casa by Jose Andres
at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
100 Dorado Beach Drive
Dorado PR 00646
Telephone: +1 787 278 7217
*Open daily for breakfast and dinner. Reservations recommended.

ENCANTO BEACH CLUB, BAR AND GRILL

Encanto is the beach club and restaurant of the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.  Located away from the arrival pavilion and main pool and Positivo Sandbar, the open-air beach complex has a large pool, sun loungers, cabanas and a main restaurant serving both lunch and dinner.

At midday, there is menu of lunch classics - sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads and pizzas and for dinner, the menu changes to Asian-inspired hot and cold appetizers along with several grilled items and sides.

For lunch, I've eaten almost everything on the menu - the blackened fish tacos are my favorite along with their freshly made tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa.  There's a good ceasar salad which can be ordered with churrasco (skirt steak), shrimp or chicken or the large kobe beef burger with Parmesan fries.

For dinner, we often order several appetizers to share and make a meal of that.  From the cold selection, don't miss the green papaya salad and the snapper ceviche while from the hot selection, my favorites are crispy yellow tail snapper with ginger sauce and the soy honey glazed Berkshire pork belly.  I've also had a simply grilled Atlantic salmon with green asparagus and the irresistible garlic fries.  Since the menus at lunch and dinner are so different, it's like eating in a different restaurant every time.  I prefer the dinner menu which is more creative and modern but that's just me.

Desserts are also different at lunch and dinner.  Don't miss the giant ice cream sundae for lunch and for dinner, try one of the Asian-inspired desserts like the banana spring rolls with a caramel dip or the coconut-flavored rice pudding.
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Encanto Beach Club Bar and Grill
at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
100 Dorado Beach Drive
Dorado PR 00646
Telephone: +1 787278 7232
*Open daily for lunch and dinner.

POSITIVO SANDBAR

The Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve has been open almost half a year now so it's time for me to finally write about the restaurants on the property.  In the first of a series of four posts, I'll be featuring the food and beverage options at the hotel.

First up is Positivo Sandbar which is a beautiful open-air deck located right on the beach with lounge chairs and tables set in the sand and a large bar serving creative cocktails. They serve a small menu at lunch of salads and appetizers and a slightly different dinner menu with the same appetizers without the salads and the addition of pork belly sliders and kobe beef sliders.

Lunch is open only to hotel guests who can enjoy their meal either at the bar or poolside then at sunset, the bar is open to everyone.  On several occasions, I've had both lunch and dinner.  For lunch, the alcohol-free Cucumber mint drink is refreshing accompanied by either a Carribbean Cobb salad with lobster or my favorite tomato avocado tostada salad.  The empanadillas (mini empanadas or fried turnovers), spinach and corn or beef, are delicious and so is the crispy calamari.  In the evening, try one of their signature cocktails then continue with the shrimp ceviche or the shredded pork belly sliders while enjoying the spectacular sunset.
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Positivo Sandbar
at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
100 Dorado Beach Drive
Dorado PR 00646
Telephone: +1 787 278 7223
*Open all-day for lunch (hotel guests only), drinks and dinner (for everyone).
*DJ on Fridays at sunset.  Sushi on Tuesday nights.

THE BEST OF 2012

It's taken a few weeks to get this blog post together but it's finally here - my annual best of 2012.  The first two were unique and fantastic in every way.  The next three are the best of Puerto Rico followed by the three best in Las Vegas and finally, the two best casual eats, one from a food truck here in Dorado and another from a beach shack in Anguilla.  All in all, 10 of my most memorable meals of the year.  Enjoy and I look forward to more new restaurant discoveries in 2013!

BEST OF THE BEST

Pubbelly (Miami)

A mid-year find on a long weekend mini-break to Miami.  Pubbelly is a gastronomic casual restaurant created by three partners - two Puerto Ricans and one Spanish, which has taken Miami by storm.  After this first foray, they have created four other successful casual eateries - Pubbelly Sushi for modern sushi, Barceloneta for Spanish tapas, Macchialina, an Italian salumeria and trattoria and about a week ago, PB Steak.  These boys have got their concepts down and manage to create a casual atmosphere loved by locals and still serve amazing food.  The menu at Pubbelly is mostly Asian-inspired but there were a few Spanish-influenced tapas as well.  Here's what we had in July.

ABC Kitchen (New York)

Another memorable summer meal was at ABC Kitchen located in the fantastic ABC Carpet & Home. Just over a year old and promoting local and organic ingredients, this was pared down comfort food that was all about the ingredients - assorted lukewarm roasted beets tossed in yoghurt, slices of heirloom tomato with just a sprinkling of salt on crusty bread, just-picked tiny radishes with cold sweet butter and bread - everything was delicious!  The service was friendly, the place casual and the menu so enticing that I can't wait to go back. 

BEST IN PUERTO RICO

Santaella

This was our first dinner out in San Juan, right after we moved to Puerto Rico in March and has remained a favorite since.  Santaella manages to serve a modern take on Puerto Rican cuisine in an unfussy location near the Plaza del Mercado.  Food is good, service is friendly and the place is always packed with locals - what more can one ask for?

Blonda

A recent addition to the Condado scene, Blonda is another casual restaurant that knows what it's doing - simple food in great location with probably, the best brunch in San Juan.  There's valet parking, bookings taken on Open Table and good food in a light-filled space.

Compostela

For classic Spanish fare, there is no place better than Compostela - the interiors are modern but nothing special, come here for the food and the excellent selection of wines.  Every meal we've had here has been exceptional - the menu authentic, the ingredients fresh, the presentation simple, the service efficient and the experience always delicious.   

BEST IN LAS VEGAS

Sambalatte

The best coffee in Las Vegas.  Ever since they opened in 2011, they have been the only place in Las Vegas for proper coffee in all forms and shapes, from espresso to flat white, from cappuccino to mocha, from pour over brewed coffee to Aero Pres,  from granita to affogato - they have proper coffee making and presentation figured out.  I never skip my Sambalatte morning cappuccino when I'm in Vegas and always stop by to say hello to the friendly owner, Luis.

Kabuto

Located in the same nondescript mall as other cult Japanese restaurants, Raku and Monta, Kabuto is a tiny restaurant with just three tables and an adequate sushi counter where the edomae sushi (Tokyo style super fresh sushi) is presented nightly using only the freshest fish and seafood and served slowly, one by one to be enjoyed.  This is the way sushi and sashimi should always be - no tricks, no mayonnaise, no fancy rolls - just fresh fish, perfectly seasoned vinegar rice, crisp seaweed, a tiny dot of wasabi and a dash of premium soy sauce.

Honey Salt

In the same area as Sambalatte, Honey Salt is so new that I haven't even blogged about my lunch there yet (post coming soon) but, believe me, this is the restaurant future for Las Vegas - trained chefs and experienced food and beverage operators band together to create their own restaurant concept.  Honey Salt is homey and the farm to table food is very good, but best of all, the minute one walks in, one can sense that the people behind the scenes know what they're doing from the logos, table settings, decor, menus and seamless service that there really is no longer a need to dine well just in a fancy Vegas hotel. Here's to a burgeoning trendy off-strip restaurant scene in Las Vegas!

BEST STREET/BEACH FOOD

Blanchards Beach Shack
If ever I open another restaurant, this is what I want it to be - simple food, a great outdoor setting and casual atmosphere.  Blanchards on the beautiful Mead's Bay beach in Anguilla is probably the best beach shack restaurant concept I've ever eaten in and for someone who's lived on several islands, that's the highest compliment ever.  Food is simple, containers are recycled, service is quick, prices and reasonable.  Blanchards Beach Shack gives fast food a great reputation.

NanoBox
Last but not least, is this Dorado food truck run by two brothers passionate about food and serving their modern version of Puerto Rican street food.  It's a great way to taste what the island has to offer and although their menu is limited, what they serve is pretty good so it's worth it to stop by for a snack on the weekend when this shiny white brand new food truck is parked just behind the Walgreen's in Dorado.
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Listed by location, in alphabetical order:

Anguilla - Blanchards Beach Shack

Las Vegas -
Honey Salt
Kabuto
Sambalatte

Miami - Pubbelly

New York - ABC Kitchen

Puerto Rico -
Blonda
Compostela
NanoBox
Santaella

DORADO BEACH, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE

In three days, the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Americas - Dorado Beach will open.  Here's a preview of what the main pool, Positivo bar and Mi Casa by Jose Andres looks like from the beach.  It's finally happening!

VICEROY ANGUILLA

Getting to Anguilla isn't that simple. There are direct flights from San Juan to Anguilla but it's on small propeller planes so we opted to go on JetBlue via St. Maarten making the journey in a plane, a boat and two immigration checks (in St. Maarten at the airport and in Anguilla at the dock) then finally, a short taxi ride to the Viceroy Anguilla.  We arrived on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon and went straight to our home for the weekend - a Sea Cliff House right on the water with a clear view of the Mead's Bay's turquoise waters.

The accommodations at Sea Cliff House were luxurious - three bedrooms (two on the upper floor and one on the ground floor), a study, large living and dining area, fully-equipped kitchen and a large terrace with a barbeque grill, plunge pool and table.  Interiors are by designer Kelly Wearstler and are in muted shades of beige, white, grey and "greige" punctuated by funky accessories, gold garden stools, driftwood lamps and cowhide rugs.

After freshening up and unpacking our mini suitcase, we headed to the Sunset Lounge for a quick dinner at the bar.  We settled into a corner of the big square bar and started off with some edamame and crispy spicy plantain chips with mango chutney dip then had some sushi, soft-shell crab rolls and tempura rolls as an appetizer followed by a cheeseburger slider each (three in a plate) with some delicious sweet potato fries.  Perfect bar food for a Friday evening.  By the time we finished our dinner, the Friday night movie was about to start - Vicky Christina Barcelona - which we skipped to head back for an early night in at our fabulous residence.

Bright and early the next morning, we had a quick breakfast at Aleta then walked over to Meads Bay beach which is at the other end of the hotel.  The waters were clear (like a swimming pool) and calm and the sand was powdery white.  I had only ever seen another beach like this in Boracay (the south of the Philippines) and finally realized why Anguilla was so special.  We sat in the shade till lunch time then walked on the beach following the coastline towards the other end where we had lunch al fresco at Blanchards Beach Shack (more on that on my next post).  We walked back to the hotel afterwards and cooled off in the swimming pool before checking out the hotel's kid's club, NBA court and rock-climbing wall.  I had a quick reflexology at the spa then went back to the room for a rest before sunset drinks and dinner.

On our second evening, we had dinner at Coba which has a fantastic location right on the bay.  The menu is classic Italian.  We had the roasted endive and goat cheese salad and the squid ink and polenta to start then had pastas: fettuccine bolognese, gnocchi and spaghetti vongole for our main course.  We finished off with the dark chocolate tart with banana ice cream and an amaretti tiramisu with illy espressos.

Sunday morning was spent enjoying our last hours in Anguilla and lunch on the beach at Bamboo Bar & Grill  where we had superb sandwiches - crispy soft-shell crab with caper mayonnaise and the grilled prawn and slaw - both served on crunchy buns with a side of those addicting sweet potato fries.  A quick ride to the dock, another fast boat to St. Maarten and a short flight back to San Juan and just like that, our weekend in paradise was over.
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Viceroy Anguilla
Barnes Bay 
P.O. Box 8028 
West End, AI-2640 Anguilla 
Phone: +1 264 497 7000 
Fax: +1 264 497 7100