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Though this tour was provided free of charge by Spoon-Puerto Rico, all opinions are my own
Colors. Vibrant, magnificent, energizing. To help us create more space in our stomachs, our Spoon Puerto Rico, San Juan Food Tour, guide, Pablo, stops at San Juan’s, Calle McArthur. Our tour group oohs and ahhs, snapping photos as fast as fingers can move.
We are learning all that San Juan has to offer. Not only is there sunny weather, exquisite architecture, and dazzling colors, San Juan, Puerto Rico has, delectable food.
“Wiki-Pablo.” That is how our, San Juan Food Tour, guide, from @thespoonexperience, introduces himself. Pablo has a wealth of knowledge about San Juan’s history, culture, and food. Our Spoon, Old San Juan Walk & Taste Food Tour, begins with an overview of San Juan’s history.
Pablo is energetic and animated. He’s the San Juan equivalent of Hollywood, our Dry Tortugas National Park, guide. Although our excitement is already high, the group is further ignited, anticipating that Spoon, and Pablo, are going to make the day, exceptional.
First Stop-Rincon Iberico
Spoon’s, San Juan Food Tour, knows how to wow. The walking tour, begins at Cuartel de Ballaja. The architectural details of this former military barracks, requires lots of photo
As the group shimmies into Rincon Iberico’s wooden booths, plates appear. Our very first dish of the tour, is a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, Mofongo. Though traditionally served with mashed plantains, our chicken Mofongo, is served with mashed cassava. The meat is tender. The cassava is moist and flavorful.
It’s our favorite Mofongo of the trip. The dish is washed down with fresh, fruit juice.
Second Stop-Taberna Lupulo
Pablo stops at the famous Calle McArthur, giving the group time to capture the street’s loveliness.
The group packs into Taberna Lupulo’s back room, occupying every available bar stool.
Pablo hands each tour-taker, a Cuban sandwich.
The sandwich is one of the bar’s specialties. All of the ingredients are locally sources, except for the pickles. The bread is fluffy, the meats are succulent, but the star of the sandwich is the rum mustard. It’s tangy, with a little touch of sweet. In addition to the sandwiches, glasses of passion fruit beer, are passed around. Taberna Luplo is well-known for having an excellent selection of craft beers.
Some of the beers are brought in externally, but our beer is from Puerto Rico’s Ocean Lab Brewing Company. I am now in love with passionfruit beer. It’s not too sweet, nor too hoppy. It’s a perfect balance.
Being a caring and conscientious, San Juan Food Tour guide, Pablo makes sure our beers are accompanied by large glasses of ice cold water. It’s important to hydrate, especially in tropical locations.
A side-note, if you are someone who requires frequent bathroom breaks, or prefer having the secure feeling that there will be bathroom breaks, food tours are the best tours. Not every stop may have a bathroom, but the majority of stops will.
Third Stop-Deaverdura
Each building, each street, is stunning. Pablo stops to explain, Old San Juan’s blue cobblestones. The cobblestones date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. They turn blue from wear and exposure to the elements. They are one of the things that makes Old San Juan stand out as a unique, must-visit, destination.
Though there is a line, to get into Deaverdura, our Spoon San Juan Food Tour, group, has a table reserved and waiting.
Deaverdura specializes in Caribbean flavors. Our plates are piled high with roasted pork shoulder, rice, and beans. The roasted pork is unbelievably tender.
Though it’s a sizable portion, and we still have two food stops to go, the pork gets devoured. Exclamations of mmm and yum, expel from lips. Our greatest San Juan, Puerto Rico, trip regret, is that we didn’t have enough time to return to Deaverdura.
Fourth Stop-Hotel El Convento
As Pablo dispenses pieces of El Convento’s history, we learn that this convent, built in the 1600s, is considered one of the most haunted places in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This convent-turned-hotel and restaurant, has the most enthralling architecture of the day. The
restaurant is situated in the hotel’s courtyard. Though parts of the restaurant sit under cover, open sections offer views of the towering, lemon-yellow, walls. Our San Juan Food Tour group is directed to sit in a section of comfy chairs. Fans whirl overhead, offering relief from the afternoon’s heat and humidity.
Every tour participant’s face, has a distinct, humidity, glow.
We are starting to reach our consumption capacity and are thankful for the light, refreshing, serving of Mahi ceviche, with taro chips.
The chips add a satisfying texture and crunch to the ceviche. This is our second passionfruit ceviche of the year, along with the one we had during our South Beach, Miami, food tour. I can’t decide which I like better. I know for sure however, that I am a fan of ceviche marinated in passion fruit juice. Tour members are enthused, as staff set down glasses of watermelon mojitos.
The drinks aren’t alcohol heavy, allowing sippers to fully enjoy the refreshing benefits of the watermelon.
I could easily spend the reminder of the afternoon lounging in Hotel El Convento’s cushy chairs, swigging cold drinks, while gazing at the courtyard’s lush plant-life, but there is one more stop to make.
Fifth Stop-Senor Paleta
“No food tour would be complete, without dessert,” announces Pablo, umbrella raised, like a San Juan Food Tour, Mary Poppins.
We follow like ducklings, ducklings who pick up their pace, when they hear popsicles are next. Another treat to beat the heat and humidity.
Pablo stops near Old San Juan’s historic Capilla del Cristo. He tells us stories attached to the 1700s cathedral, and gives us background on Old San Juan’s Pigeon Park.
There is no time to feed the birds at this popular tourist attraction, but Pablo encourages us to spend more time in this area, when able.
Senor Paleta, is a small shop, so we take turns stepping inside.
The chilled, glass, case, is filled with a rainbow of choices.
I quickly decide on Papaya, since it’s not a flavor, popular at home. The popsicle’s color is stunning against the Old San Juan background. Our tour began with glorious color, and ends with the same.
Sadly, Pablo must bid us farewell. He is an outstanding tour guide. We board our bus with full bellies and increased knowledge about the history and culture of Puerto Rico.
Whether visiting by plane or cruise ship, Spoon’s, Old San Juan Walk & Taste Food Tour, is a great way to spend a day, in Puerto Rico.
Click here to check out SPOON Food Tours in Puerto Rico
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Sonia
atThis food tour looks like a fun way to explore old town San Juan. We enjoyed Mofongo on our many visits to PR, though having this with cassava sounds like an interesting twist.