In its second year, Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival Presented by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company concluded in spectacular fashion, with a weekend of unforgettable cuisine, celebration, and an even stronger commitment to bringing global attention to the island’s culinary community.
From the Opening Night Reception at San Juan’s La Concha Resort to its expanded programming lineup, the festival came into its own, with more than 60 participating chefs, mixologists, and tastemakers, including: Host Chef Mario Pagán, and Chefs Esther Choi, Paul Bartolotta, Wilo Benet, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Geoffrey Zakarian, Scott Conant, Monti Carlo, Ming Tsai, Todd English, Marcus Samuelsson, among many more.
“Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival was built on a simple belief: that this island deserves a world-class platform,” says festival founder Robert Weakley. “What we are seeing in year two is proof that the culinary community here is ready for that spotlight, and we are just getting started.”
Highlights of the weekend showcased both the scale and spirit of the festival, with a series of sold-out seminars and dining experiences, featuring renowned chefs, sommeliers, and industry leaders, alongside vibrant celebrations of Puerto Rican culture woven throughout the programming.
Guests were immersed in traditional island entertainment, including livelyplena and bomba performances, as well as appearances by beloved folkloric characters such as el sapo concho, bringing an authentic sense of place to the experience. The festival’s signature Blue Carpet moment set the tone for the weekend, welcoming notable guests and culminating in a special appearance by San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo, further underscoring the event’s growing cultural and civic significance.
“Puerto Rico has always had a powerful culinary story to tell, and this festival is our stage,” says Host Chef Pagán. “Seeing our local talent cook alongside some of the most respected names in the industry is a powerful statement. This is Puerto Rico showing the world exactly who we are.”
The festival’s growth is reflected in its expanding roster of premier partners, led by returning Official Presenting Partner Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Official Credit Card & Banking Sponsor Visa Infinite. This year also welcomes FIJI Water as Official Water Partner, Lexus Puerto Rico and OpenTable Power Lunch Series, among other notable local and national brands.
Since its inception, Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival has maintained a commitment to the community through Puerto Rico Eats for Good, a year-round charitable initiative dedicated to promoting culinary and wine education. The program provides development opportunities and scholarships to the island’s culinary community.
More information about the Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival can be found at the festival’s website.
