The career of Puerto Rican chef Mario Pagán will be recognized on Friday, August 28, during a special evening at the Hotel Condado Vanderbilt, starting at 7:00 pm. The event will celebrate Pagán's contributions to Puerto Rican cuisine and support students in the field of gastronomy. The funds raised will go to the scholarship fund for culinary students at the Universidad Ana G.
Méndez. Juan Ernesto Ayala, Vice President of Community Relations at the university, stated that thanks to these scholarships, they have been able to impact 185 students and raise over $160,000 for their development and practice trips. The evening will feature renowned chefs from the island, who will reinterpret some of Pagán's most iconic dishes from their own culinary perspectives.
Pagán selected the chefs to accompany him in creating the menu, including José Enrique, José 'Chompy' Cruz, René Marichal, Nasha Fondeur, Natalia Rivera, Ramón Carrillo, Juan Peña, Víctor Rosado, Sebastián Rosado, Patrick Escobar, and Rodolfo Cipriano. The chefs are honored to be part of the tribute and excited to put their own spin on Pagán's creations. The event will feature different gastronomic stations, accompanied by a selection of wines and drinks curated by sommelier Sandro Giulimondi.