From Kitchen Dreams to Michelin Stars: Chef Josรฉ Pagรกn Ortiz‘s Journey
Josรฉ Pagรกn Ortiz,a Puertoโ Rican chef now celebrated for hisโ Michelin-starred restaurant Wild Common in Charleston,South Carolina,has navigated a โremarkable path – one marked by culinary passion,a serious health challenge,and ultimately,triumph. His story is a testament โto resilience, the power of diet, and the unwavering supportโ of a dedicated โteam.
Pagรกn Ortiz’s culinary journey began in โค1997 at the Wyndham Rรญo Mar in Puerto โขRico,initially as a busboy.Inspired by Chef โJeremy Cruz and the energy of theโฃ kitchen, he โeagerlyโค assisted cooks during his โfree time, supplementing his hands-on experience with a love for cooking shows.โฃ This early immersion solidified his passion, leading him to forgo a semester at the University of โTurabo toโข pursue a career in theโฃ culinary arts.
Inโข 1999,he moved toโค Miami to study at Johnson & wales University,with the intention of โeventually returning to Puerto Rico. However, a visit to โSan Francisco, California,โข altered his plans. Drawn by theโค opportunity to learn about wine and food pairings, he extended โhis stay, ultimately โขspending nearly 13 years in theโ city working in numerous Michelin-starred restaurants.
Lifeโข took another turn in 2017โ when Pagรกn Ortiz โand his wife, Nora, were expecting their second child. Seeking aโฃ more affordable place to raise their family, they relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, a city they knew little about at the time. โ โข
Shortlyโข after arriving, Pagรกn Ortizโค opened Wild Common in 2018, a restaurant that would eventually earn him a coveted Michelin star. He โalsoโ embraced his puerto Rican heritage,hosting a “pop-up” event in 2019 with a chefโข from Mayagรผez,recreating the vibrant flavors of the Luquillo Kiosks. This event garnered important support โคnot only from the Puerto Rican community but also from the broader Latino population in โคCharleston.
Though, โขPagรกn Ortiz’s successโค was shadowed by โขaโค personal battle. He wasโฃ diagnosed with multiple โขsclerosis,a disease where the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells,leading โฃto โslowed or halted nerve impulses. Symptomsโ can range from muscle weakness andโ loss of balance to vision problems and facial pain.
Determined to manage his condition, Pagรกn Ortiz dramatically alteredโ his diet,โ eliminating dairy and gluten through the adoption of a paleo diet. He credits this change,alongside the support โof his medical team,with successfully regulating his health. His doctors have encouraged โhim to continue withโค this dietaryโ approach.
Crucially,Pagรกn Ortiz alsoโค benefits from a highly supportive โคwork environment. His colleagues are mindful of his health, ensuring heโข avoids burnout and doesn’t exceed a reasonable number โof hours working at theโข stove. Heโค emphasizes that their support โgoesโ beyond words,manifesting in tangible actions.
Today, Pagรกn Ortiz andโ his wife are raising their โขtwo children, an 11-year-old daughter โขand a 9-year-old son.โ While content in Charleston, he hasn’t abandoned his initial dream of returning toโ Puerto Rico. โฃDriven by his family’s encouragement, he hopes to one day open a restaurant โon the island, showcasing Puerto Rican cuisine on a global stage.
