Puertoโ Rican Chefโค Celebratedโ as “Best of Fort Worth 2025″ โฃ-โ Aโข Fusion of โFlavors and Cultural Pride
Viva Gastronomy, a โขrestaurant in Fort Worth, Texas,โ is gaining recognition for it’sโค innovative approach to โPuerto Ricanโค cuisine, earning the title of Best of Fort worth 2025. The restaurant,โข spearheaded by its chef, is moving awayโข from customary buffet-style dining, opting rather for a โrefined and personalized culinary experience.
The chef explains the restaurant’s core ideology: “We haveโฃ taken Puerto Rican gastronomy โคand fused it with โขthat from here, managing to enter both markets through Puerto Rican โขflavors,โฃ but โalways respecting the local ingredients of Fort Worth.”
Key to thisโฃ fusion are specific Puerto Rican flavors โขbrought to Texas. “With โฃguava,” the chef stated emphatically,”That is the one hit โขwonder โ- it is here toโฃ stay.” viva Gastronomy has โcreatively incorporated guava into โTexan barbecue, featuring it in thier brisket and ribs, as well as sauces and desserts.โข Tamarindโ has also become a signature โelement of theirโ menu. โขAlongside theseโ innovative combinations, the restaurant remains committed toโข classic โPuerto Rican dishes, ensuring staplesโข like rice withโข pigeonโฃ peas, pernil (slow-roasted pork shoulder), and traditional Christmas pastries are always available, especiallyโค for the โlocal Puerto โRican community.
Diners โare often initially surprised byโ the unique flavor pairings. “Theyโ are very surprisedโค by our proposals. Sometimes they are a little doubtful about the guava in theโ barbecue or the tamarind in โคtheir โmenus, but in the end they are completely pleased and surprised,”โ theโ chef shared.
the Best of Fort Worth 2025 award is based onโ customer nominations and reviews โacross โคvarious platforms, highlighting both the quality of service and the growing gratitude for Puerto Rican cuisine.
The chef expressed a profound sense of pride and dutyโข with the recognition. “Along withโฃ a โdeep pride, I feelโ a great commitmentโ to representing our gastronomic culture, those flavors and ingredients that are part of our cuisine.I have always โขhad that โฃresponsibility, and now more than โคeverโ thatโ Puerto rico โis in โคthe international spotlight thanks to Bad Bunny andโ the residency at the choliseo. This responsibility comes with enormous gratification: knowing that we are doing things well.โ Not everyone has the opportunityโ to represent their land in the industry that they are passionateโ about, andโ I haveโค had the honor of not only โbeing recognized, but of โdoing โฃso every day ofโข my โlife.”
Beyond the restaurant, โthe โฃchef is actively involved in projects to highlight the Puerto Rican diasporaโฃ inโข Fort Worth. Theyโ have collaboratedโค with other Puertoโข Ricans in the city to create โขa โฃdocumentary video showcasing the impact andโข contributionsโ ofโข theโค community. “The representation is authenticโข because it comes from a patriotic impulse and pride. Here thereโ is a โคgrowing interest in our culture, and it is a privilege to be part of that movement that keeps the Puerto Rican identity alive outsideโ the island.”