Jose Santaella is a prominent Puerto Rican chef, cookbook author, restaurant owner and caterer with more than 20 years of experience and a vast knowledge on both Puerto Rico’s gastronomy and international cuisine. From Puerto Rico, Miami, Barcelona, New York and San Francisco, Santaella has worked with globally acclaimed chefs, such as Ferran Adria (El Bulli), Eric Ripert (Le Bernadin) and Gary Danko. In July of 2011 he opened his first restaurant, Santaella, to much acclaim in the buzzing market/nightlife district of Placita. Since its opening, the restaurant has been lauded in a variety of well known culinary columns and media channels such as Departures, El Mundo (Spain), The Telegraph (UK), Ralph Lauren Magazine, NBC News, Telemundo, Food & Wine and recently in the Cooking Channel’s Avec Eric series with Eric Ripert. In 2008 Chef Jose Santaella was the special guest at the Smithsonian Latino Center Gala in Washington, D.C., creating a gourmet menu inspired by the best Creole cuisine and paying tribute to Puerto Rican Culture. Since 2001, he has served as executive chef and owner of JSB Cooking Group, the premier catering company in Puerto Rico.