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dining & shopping:puerto rico |
 With
an enticing mix of Spanish cuisine brought over with early colonists
blended with the West Indian flavors brought with the African slaves
and the native dishes from the indigenous tribes, Puerto Rican food
is an adventurous delight for the tastebuds. |
| All types and ranges of cuisines can be found throughout
the island from high-end steakhouses to roadside stalls selling traditional
Puerto Rican snacks to American fast food chains. Ironically, the only
food yet to be perfected on this island nation is seafood. San Juan offers tourists a range of tastes from all ethnicities including Chinese, West Indian, Italian and more. Old San Juan offers a number of outdoor cafes where guests can sit and watch people stolling the streets and enjoy the excellent cuisine under the stars. On the West Coast, seafood restaurants are more prevalant especially in the beach resort of Boqueron. Also in this area, the desserts are island renowned. Old San Juan is a craft shopper's paradise with an array of island crafts like santos (statues of Spanish saints) and vigantes (masks from Carnaval). The eastern town of Moca specializes in hand sewn lace. And, of course, Puerto Rican rum and coffee are popular souveniers. |