Puerto Rican Chef Mario Pagan Transforms Former Theater into Motto Restaurant

Culinary Ambassador for Puerto Rico

• 💡 Chef Mario Pagan is a culinary ambassador for Puerto Rico, with four fine dining restaurants on the island.
• 🎯 His restaurants feature food that tells a story through bold Caribbean flavors, aiming to elevate Puerto Rican cuisine.

From Architecture to Cuisine

• 🏗️ Pagan initially studied architecture in Miami, but his true calling was in food, a transition that was difficult with his parents.
• 🌟 He found a mentor in Alfredo Ayala, the 'godfather of modern Puerto Rican cuisine,' and eventually purchased Ayala's restaurant, Chiote.

Motto: A Fusion of Flavors

• 🎭 Pagan's latest venture, Motto, is located in a former theater, where his food serves as the performance.
• 🌏 The restaurant offers a fusion of Asian, Latin, and Caribbean flavors, with dishes designed to tell a story.
• 🍲 A notable dish is a mofongo variation using yuca instead of plantains, paired with delicate Pacific shrimp.

Culinary Innovation and Textures

• 🥢 The menu includes innovative dishes like Chinese mayorca sweet gyoza, grilled octopus with green banana escabete, and an AI tuna roll with salted cod crisp.
• 🎨 Pagan emphasizes the importance of textures in his dishes, drawing parallels to architecture.
• 🌊 Desserts feature creations like a cocoa ginger pavlova with luchi yuzo sorbet, balancing multiple flavors while remaining light.

Resilience and Culinary Growth Post-Maria

• 🌱 Pagan highlights the importance of sourcing locally as much as possible, supporting growers and producers in Puerto Rico.
• 🤝 He notes the resilience of the island's food scene post-Hurricane Maria, with many cooks and chefs returning and opening new establishments.
• 🏆 The wine and food festival in San Juan, supported by Pagan, was crucial for showcasing local chefs and ingredients, boosting Puerto Rico's culinary profile.