Northshore Magazine

Northshore January/February 2019

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY ENTERPRISES 117 icy. ey're all handmade and come in flavors like banana, Nutella, strawberry cheesecake, Oreo, and strawberry lemonade. Chocobar Casa Cortés is another gem—a little touristy, but great for brioche French toast stuffed with chocolate, frozen and regular hot chocolate, and coffee. e chocolate is locally made." Beyond Old San Juan, Besser has several top restaurant picks, including aMare, "a beautiful seafood restaurant with ocean views," located inside the newly open Serafina Beach Hotel. She also likes Santaella, con- figured around a lush central garden and serving upscale Puerto Rican specialties like caramelized braised pork shank and shrimp in a garlic cream sauce with plantain mo- fongo. Another favorite is Jose Enrique, set "in a pink house on a funny block" but offering wonderful fresh fish and local ingredients. Soon after Hurricane Maria, Enrique and Spanish-American chef José Andrés teamed up to feed thousands of locals fresh hot meals from Enrique's gas-powered kitchen. Since no trip to Puerto Rico is complete Left, top and bottom, International Hospitality Enterprises manages several hotels on the island including Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. Right, top and bottom, Like all beaches on Puerto Rico, La Concha's beach is open to the public. without visiting the island's powder-white beaches, head to Condado, a chichi commu- nity in Santurce set along a ribbon of beach with azure waters. All of San Juan's beaches are open to the public, which means you can lay down a towel in front of any of those styl- ish waterfront hotels, like La Concha Resort or Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. e latter has a sumptuous spa and 1919 Restaurant, master- minded by Michelin-starred chef Juan Cuevas, who cooked at Blue Hill in Manhattan and has earned accolades for his island-rooted cuisine, like local fish with local greens and tamarind-balsamic emulsion. For lovely, calm swimming with no waves, visit Condado Lagoon, which is protected from the ocean and known for its warm, clear waters. Standup paddleboards are available to rent, and if you're lucky, you'll spot some local iguanas. For an island adventure, head to the eastern tip of Puerto Rico for a day trip via East Island Excursions. "ey operate out of all the major hotels and you can go on this 18-person catamaran to this desolate island and then visit this gorgeous reef, with lunch in between," says Besser, who recommends the excursion to all her out-of-town friends. Come evening, Puerto Rico's nightlife kicks into gear, because no act of nature can dampen the indomitable, joyous spirit of Puerto Ricans, expressed so keenly through their music. roughout the island's banyan tree–lined plazas, you can hear the infectious beat of salsa, which is also played in clubs and bars, particularly around La Placita, a popular market area in Santurce brimming with eateries. "Puerto Rico's residents are resilient and have shown their grit in making sure we bring back the island and put it in better shape than it was before," says Hopgood. "e locals want to showcase the island and make sure you have a great experience in order to spread the word about Puerto Rican hospitality. As Puerto Rican–born Lin Manuel Miranda [creator and star of Hamilton] recently said, 'e best way to support the island is by going to visit it.'" ihepr.com/ihe-portfolio

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