Location: #801 Ave. Fernandez Juncos Miramar, PR 00907
Restaurant: La Jaquita Baya
Position: Executive Chef/Owner
Cuisine focus: Farm to the table, inspired by Puerto-rican flavors.
Notable Awards: “10 Best Novel Chefs” by El Vocero Newspaper; President & co-founder of AGPR (Asociacion Gastronimica de Puerto Rico); Collaboration of a Puerto-rican menu in Washington, Miami, New York, Colombia, St. Thomas, Costa Rica.
After more than 20 years of working in kitchens of different heritages, Xavier Pacheco decided to open a new restaurant with his friend and partner, Luis David Rodriguez, called La Jaquita Baya in Miramar, Puerto Rico. Pacheco is a founder and president of the AGPR (Asociación Gastronómica Puerto Riqueña), a new gastronomic movement focused on creating strong communication links among the different divisions of the local gastronomy (chefs, farmers, local cheese makers, bakers, butchers, fishermen, etc.). Chef Xavier Pacheco is one of the most creative, committed, inspiring and determined young chefs in Puerto Rico, known and respected for being one of the first promoters of “Farm to the Table.”
1. What’s your regular comfort meal?
Grilled cheese & soup.
2. Tell us about one Kitchen Disaster story.
Busy Friday… flooded kitchen.
3. Do you have any kitchen battle scars?
A lot! Classic hard-working cook tattoos. (Burns, cuts…etc.)
4. If your last day was tomorrow, what would be your last meal?
My mom’s classic: Chicken stew/ salted belly white rice/ stewed beans with pig’s feet/ “pan de agua” with butter/avocado salad & fried plantains.
5. Who makes your favorite knife?
Korin.
6. Finish this sentence:
If I weren’t a Chef, I would be a cook again because I would love to travel the world and learn the most I can about different cultures and heritages. I was born for this, I really love what I do.
7. After a long workday, what do you do to decompress?
Cold beer.
8. What do you wish you had more time to do?
To travel.
9. Besides cooking, do you have any other talents?
I love music; dance & art… play “congas” & write poetry.
10. What is your culinary “best case” scenario?
Open beachfront kitchen, personal garden, cool happy clients, daily catch of the day, a cold beer in my station…ufff!!! ECua Jei!!!
Learn more about Chef Xavier I. Pacheco McDougall on his Chef’s Roll profile here.
Chef Xavier I. Pacheco McDougall will be participating at Puerto Rico Meets NYC in October 2015. Learn more about the even by clicking on the image below.
