1919 Restaurant

1919 Restaurant is passionately committed to offering the freshest organic and local ingredients, consciously sourcing materials, focusing on local, artisan, and handmade. 1919 is a vibrant, artistic, and very well orchestrated type of cuisine. In preparing the ingredients used for each dish, the intention is to bring the flavors forward without distraction. We aim to obtain clarity in taste and presentation so that the diner may fully realize the essence of the ingredients used. In our kitchen we are firm believers of the locavore movement and will have a farm and/or ocean to table focus. The menu will have a strong emphasis on fish, shellfish and locally produced vegetables. Puerto Rico native and Culinary Institute of America honors graduate, Chef Juan José Cuevas began his professional career in 1995, at a three-star Michelin restaurant, Arkelare in San Sebastian, Spain. In 1997, he returned to the United States and continued enhancing his culinary skills as Tournant & Saucier for the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco under the internationally known chef Sylvain Portay. In July of 2000, Juan José joined the prestigious Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York as Saucier. Afterwards, he returned to Spain and completed an externship, staging at the Michelin-starred restaurant, El Raco de Can Fabes of Chef Santi Santamaria. In 2001, Juan José returned to New York and Sous Chef under chef Christian Delouvrier of the legendary restaurant, Lespinasse, the restaurant received the highest accolade a food critic for the New York Times can award a New York restaurant, 4 stars. His next move was to join Chef Dan Barber at Blue Hill where they both obtained international recognition thanks to Juan José’s culinary skills and for Dan’s passion for the farm to table concept. Under the command of Juan José, Blue Hill was recognized and rated three-stars by the New York Times and one-star by Michelin. Later, Juan José joined Chef Ed Brown as Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant 81, achieving one star from Michelin during their first year. In 2009, Juan José was awarded, Chef de l’Avenir, (Chef of the Future) by the international Academy of Gastronomy. Juan José was the Executive Chef at The Pluckemin Inn at Bedminster, New Jersey during the following two years. After many years honing his culinary craft alongside some of the most notable chefs in the world, Juan José returns to Puerto Rico as Executive Chef of the luxurious Condado Vanderbilt.