Chef Raúl Correa of Zest at the San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel - Biography

San Juan, Puerto Rico

July 2014

From the very beginning, native Puerto Rican Raúl Correa had a passion and deep respect for the food of his country. As a child, he was inspired and impressed by his uncle’s cooking.   With direction and drive, he started his professional career in 1995 at the age of 18 as kitchen supervisor for the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. Eventually Correa became executive chef of the Normandie Hotel before founding his own consulting firm called Boutique Cuisine Catering and Kitchen Management in 2009. He also took on the role of chef-instructor at Escuela Hotelera.

In 2012, Correa took over the newly renovated Zest at the San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel. There he cooks modernist Puerto Rican food with heart, and is most well known for his playful, fun, and flavorful amuse bouche program.