Discover Puerto Rico promotes island food & drink at Colorado expo
By The Star Staff
Discover Puerto Rico showcased Puerto Rican culture, gastronomy and cocktails over the weekend during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, an event that each year attracts more than 4,000 attendees and dozens of major U.S. publishers, some of them specialized in travel, culture, or tourism, according to a statement Monday.
As part of the exhibition, renowned Puerto Rican chef Mario Pagán prepared a series of dishes, some with rum or coffee infusions, for the food enthusiasts to experience.
Discover Puerto Rico also partnered with Rums of Puerto Rico to showcase drinks and cocktails made with some local brands like Bacardi, Don Q, and Ron Barrilito. The Don Q brand offered a tasting of their most exclusive rum, “Reserva de la Familia,” which has a limited production. Samples of Puerto Rican coffee were also provided.
“We are sharing what Puerto Rico offers luxury travelers and visitors motivated by the gastronomy, cocktails, and cultural experiences of our island,” said Leah Chandler, chief marketing officer of Discover Puerto Rico, in a statement.
Puerto Rican flavors fuse diverse cultural heritage and traditions that make the island’s food and cocktails unique. “Puerto Rico produces more than 70% of the rum consumed in the United States,” said Maite Jordán, director of Rums of Puerto Rico. “However, that is not what makes us the capital of rum, but rather it is the quality of the products we make and the vast experience of our specialists who know every detail that makes our rum stand out for its flavor and aroma, among many other qualities.”
It was the second year that Puerto Rico has participated in the Food & Wine Classic. Attendees of the event, on average, take three leisure trips a year and average an annual income of $800,000.