Rincon, Puerto Rico
I recently took a trip to Puerto Rico where I spent most of my time in and around Rincon on the Northwestern end of the island. There were fantastic waves coming in from the Atlantic to the north that had surfers swarming like anxious bees around where we were staying, but the Caribbean side of the coast just a few miles down Route 413 was unbelievably calm and quiet, just a few Medalla-sipping souls dotting the beach with their frolicking dogs. The mofongo (an old African slave dish made from fried plantains and meat) we had in Old San Juan at a place called Raices was phenomenal, one of the most memorable dishes of my life despite the touristy atmosphere of the restaurant. Route 115 in Rincon, however, sported dozens of vendors on the side of the road selling fresh produce, and the man selling live spiny lobsters convinced us to cook our own meals for most of our time in the area. Simply steamed and served with roasted breadfruit, the lobsters were perfect, requiring no seasoning at all, their flesh already slightly salty from the ocean waters from whence they came.
Later, while waiting for fresh empanadas at a stand on 413, we eyed the one of the chickens roaming freely on the street, wondering what the etiquette was for nabbing one of the clucking birds on public property. In the end, we didn’t want to horrify our hosts by slaughtering a hen in their kitchen, so we let her be. A trip to an off-the-grid, solar-powered goat farm run by a Swiss couple was truly inspiring – there’s nothing like sipping fresh goat milk while staring at the goats that produced it munching away on tropical flora in a secluded valley. Drinks at the faux-colonial hotel The Horned Dorset were nice, but for my money, I’d rather just sit on a beach with a six-pack after a home-cooked meal of local ingredients. On the way back to San Juan on our last day, we stopped at a little shack on the highway to sample some roasted chicken and barbecued ribs served with boiled yucca and green bananas, which were vastly better than the meal we had at a much pricier place called La Terrazza later that evening in Durado. All in all, a fun and relaxing trip full of memorable food, and just enough of a taste of the island’s complicated history to make me want to know more.
Tagged: Puerto Rico, Rincon
RELATED
Oasis Clubhouse: a new project by Chef Felix
Any tried and true foodie in Buenos Aires is an assiduous follower of Chef Diego Felix’s’ closed door restaurant, Casa Felix. Typically, however, his inspired pescatarian eats are only available a few months out of the year in Buenos Aires while the rest of the time, the Felix clan travels through Argentina, San Francisco, New York, Puerto Rico, and Latin America, generally, hosting closed door diners around the world. Luckily for all of us here in Buenos Aires, his contemporary yet distinctively regional fare can now be found in private events around the city as well thanks to the super exclusive Oasis Clubhouse. Read more
Also by GERRY MAK
Anatomical cross-sections made from Japanese tissue paper
Lisa Nilsson’s Tissue Series consists of anatomical cross-sections made from Japanese mulberry paper and the gilded edges of old books. Read more
Designed by Patrick Jouffret of French design studion agency 360, this unisex bicycle helmet folds up into a compact shape small enough to fit in your purse or backpack, so you’re not left wondering what to do with it after you’ve locked up your bike.
Millennium Falcon fort built for young leukemia patient
Christian, a nine-year-old leukemia patient, wished for a backyard fort shaped like the Millennium Falcon. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted his wish. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (0)
No comments yet.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Though Parisian illustrator Guy-Pascal Vallez (otherwise known as GAX) probably has very elaborate and fully rendered narratives in mind when he creates his images, but it’s probably best not to ask him what they are — it’s more fun to let his beautiful work inspire your own idea of what’s going on. Read more
If there’s something, or someone, creative, fun, inspiring, weird, whacky, or wonderful that you’d like to post about directly on Lost At E Minor, then simply use the form on this page to submit a post. If we dig it too (and chances are we will), we’ll run it on the site and you’ll be a bona fide, official, died-in-the wool contributor to Lost At E Minor. Hooray. Now, share away! [Illustration via Freaking News]
I don’t care if Jimmy Hendrix was dragged kicking and screaming from where he lies, put through a torrid round of detox, and handed an invisible guitar – a Flying V carved out of the bones of Robert Johnson. It would still pale in comparison to this. Read more
Greek firm A31 just completed this sturdy-looking art warehouse for Alexandros Liapis in Dilesi, Boeotia. From some angles, the concrete structure looks like a fallout-proof bunker, but from the front it looks like an open and airy barn, the exterior looking very much like wood. Read more
I’m enjoying the writing on the recently launched The Epi-Cure blog, which discusses the ‘latest scientific studies on health and nutrition’, and features interviews with ‘expert scientists, dieticians, and nutritionists’. The site’s founder and editor, Michelle Grey, also runs tasty, healthy recipes from New York chef Benjamin Towill, including today’s installment: Stuffed Zucchini Flowers [above]. Hmmm hmm. Read more
If you ever happen to find yourself riding across the mid-west on horseback with an iPod jangling about in your holster, be sure to let Calexico soundtrack the experience. They’re cleverly fusing a range of genres, mixing some good old country with US indie, a bit of jazz and even, in 2003’s Feast of Wire, some smatterings of electronica. Lead singer Joey Burns gives a healthy amount of cowboy twang and the soaring orchestral background and sweet country guitar licks add a real atmosphere to the music.
Listen to the Calexico song, Convict Pool.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Dream a little dream with indie designers, S&G Clothing. Sexy, sophisticated style with a an edge that even the artist known as Prince takes a fancy to as he wore the designs on his most recent European tour. S&G Clothing is located in the heart of Hollywood, on the famous shopping strip, Melrose Ave. [Photography by Sequoia Emmanuelle]
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Cookie Boy’s creative cookie designs
I don’t eat cookies, so good thing Cookie Boy’s cookies are little pieces of art too pretty and cute to eat. Read more
Benjamin Edminston’s psychedelic heads seem to have some fearful wisdom behind their blissed-out eyes. Read more
It’s refreshing to see artists like Joe Kievitt who are contented to explore the beauty in simple forms and asymmetrical patterns. Read more
Here are a couple awesome pieces by Matt Leines that were recently on display in the Doubting Thomases exhibit at Nudashank gallery in Baltimore. Gives me ideas for Halloween. Read more
We love the re-Issue of the original Raised by Wolves and Furni digital watch collaboration, which comes with a built-in phone book, stopwatch, countdown timer and multiple alarm features with melody setting. Read more
If you have a Twitter feed that focuses on cool pop cultural things and you’d like to swap Tweets with Lost At E Minor and other like-minded Twitterers, drop us a note (with Tweet Swap in the title). We have a system in place and we’d like to have you in on it! [illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick]
FOLLOW US
DISCOVER MORE
SO...
SEARCH: Can't find what you're looking for? Do a search..
IS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?
We hope you're enjoying your time on Lost At E Minor, but it's not over yet. Got something to share? Tell us about it and we'll look to publish it. If you want to have your work featured on the site, we'd love to hear from you. Pssst, we also have an online store stocking some of the goodies we feature on the site.
If you're a media agency and want to use this platform to connect with our readership, then drop us a line and tell us about it. Oh yeah, and we do digital consulting for cool brands that want to reach the sort of demographic that visits this site.
