RUMS OF PUERTO RICO SHAKES UP THE INAUGURAL FOOD NETWORK
NEW YORK WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL WITH CELEBRATED CHEFS
WILO BENET AND MARIO PAGÁN

Culinary luminaries bring a distinct Caribbean flavor
sprinkled with premier Puerto Rican rums

The culinary capital of the Caribbean is coming to the culinary event of the season as Rums of Puerto Rico and Chefs Wilo Benet and Mario Pagán make their debut at the inaugural Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. From the sizzling flavors of rum-inspired dishes to cool rum cocktails, die-hard New Yorkers and visiting foodies alike will have a unique opportunity to meet these award-winning chefs and sample the flavors of Puerto Rico that only these lauded chefs can bring.

Rum continues to increase in popularity for cocktails as well as a key ingredient in various dishes from appetizers to entrées to desserts.

So Rums of Puerto Rico is proud to host Chef Wilo Benet and Chef Mario Pagán, two of the culinary world’s brightest stars, at this year’s Food Network New York Wine & Food Festival.

Chef Benet is the President and owner of Museum Restaurant Group and Museum Catering Services, as well as the chef and owner of Pikayo and Payá restaurants in Puerto Rico.  This Master Chef will soon open his third venture, Varita Wood Burning Rotisserie, his latest casual dining concept featuring rustic and comfort foods.  Pikayo was voted one of the “100 Best Restaurants in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler. He has been featured on the Food Network and The Martha Stewart Show and is the author of the recently released bestseller “Puerto Rico True Flavors”, which due to the huge success was recently translated into Spanish.  During his 23 years in the culinary arena, Chef Benet has received a myriad of awards and recognitions locally as well as internationally including James Beard Foundation, National Restaurant Association and Caribbean Culinary Award of Excellence among many others. This summer he was chosen as a Judge for Bravo TV’s hugely successful reality show Top Chef.  For Chef Benet there is an intimate connection between the food and the rums of Puerto Rico.  “Puerto Ricans have been cooking with rum for generations, so it’s exciting to see the ways in which rum is starting to pay a role in launching Puerto Rico as a gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. Its versatility has no limits!”, Benet declared.

At this year’s Food Network New York City Wine & Festival Chef Benet will be dazzling crowds with rum-inspired dishes such as Traditional Root Vegetable combined with “Serenata de Bacalao”, Boiled Eggs or Red Onion and “Recao”.  He will also be preparing Pumpkin Ginger Soup with Peas, Crab “Salmorejo” and Grated Chorizo.

Also in attendance will be Puerto Rican superstar Chef Mario Pagán. As the chef and owner of two of Puerto Rico’s most renowned fine-dining establishments, Chayote and LemonGrass, Chef Pagán has garnered an astonishing series of accolades including having won Puerto Rico’s prestigious El Nuevo Día’s “Silver and Bronze Fork” award every year since 1998. He has also garnered acclaim from international media including Travel & Leisure, Food and Wine, Gourmet, Bon Appétit, Esquire, The Boston Globe, The New York Times and The Miami Herald. Chef Pagán believes that, “The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is an excellent opportunity to show the world the cutting edge cuisine that we are creating in Puerto Rico.”

Rums of Puerto Rico kicked off the weekend events with an ultra-chic opening event at the Gansevoort Hotel, the premier luxury hotel in the hip Meatpacking District. This rooftop event featured tastes of Puerto Rico—both the cuisine and the rums that play an integral part of the food and flavor of Puerto Rico. A unique CD “Music to Drink Rum With” was created by renowned Puerto Rican DJ Candela, especially for this event and will be given throughout the Festival to all attendees as a special memento.  A special drink menu featuring cocktails made with Rums of Puerto Rico were designed for the event, featuring both classic and innovative concoctions such as Lavender Tonic, Don Q Mojito, Q Ba Libre, Don Q Punch and Don Q Grand Añejo served in a snifter.

Chefs Benet and Pagán will be available for interviews throughout the weekend with both chefs appearing and cooking in the Puerto Rico tent on Friday, October 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. Subsequently, both chefs will be presenting at the Grand Tastings Tents from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with Chef Pagán offering his take on Puerto Rican cuisine on Saturday, and Chef Benet showing his skills at the Grand Tastings on Sunday.

“Puerto Rico is the rum capital of the world boasting the highest quality and offering more versatility for mixing than any other spirit, both as an ingredient for cocktails and for cooking.  This type of event helps us portray the unique qualities of Puerto Rico both as a rum producer and as a rum destination,” commented Karen Garnik, chief marketing officer for Rums of Puerto Rico.

“As Puerto Rico continues to garner world-wide acclaim for its sophisticated gastronomy and impeccable hospitality, the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presents yet another opportunity for the rums of Puerto Rico to  put their inimitable stamp of energy and excitement on the culinary scene,” she concluded.

* * * FOR INTERVIEW REQUESTS OR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT * * *

Karen Garnik                                        Steve Gold
Rums of Puerto Rico                             Tres Palmas Communications LLC
787-552-5202                                      646-623-6934
kgarnik@pridco.com                             sgold@sgny.com

Brian Unger                                     
Tres Palmas Communications
bunger@dwtjv.com
917-453-7311