Chocobar Cortés
| Chocobar Cortés | |
|---|---|
 The cafe's exterior in 2022 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2013 |
| Street address | 210 Calle San Francisco |
| City | San Juan |
| State | Puerto Rico |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 00901 |
| Other locations |
|
Chocobar Cortés is a restaurant brand originating in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that integrates chocolate into a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Founded in 2013 as an extension of the Chocolate Cortés manufacturing company, it has expanded to include a location in The Bronx.
Description
[edit]Chocobar Cortés is a restaurant brand with origins in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[1] It is an extension of Chocolate Cortés, a chocolate manufacturing company with factories in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.[2] The restaurants incorporate chocolate into a variety of sweet and savory dishes.[1][2]
Menu
[edit]The menu includes items such as grilled cheese sandwiches made with chocolate butter, chocolate ketchup for curly fries, steaks with a chocolate rub, and croquettes with a chocolate dipping sauce.[1][2] Additionally, it includes a range of hot chocolates, Bloody Marys with chocolate bitters, and chocolate guacamole served with avocado toast.[1][2] A traditional Puerto Rican pairing of hot chocolate with cheddar cheese is also available.[2] Specialty items include chalupitas de mofongo, stuffed with pork and topped with chocolate chili sauce.[1][2]
History
[edit]Chocobar Cortés was established in 2013 in San Juan by Elaine Shehab, who conceptualized the integration of chocolate into a restaurant setting.[2] This initiative was supported by the Cortés family, which has operated its chocolate business for four generations.[2] The Old San Juan location was later followed by the opening of a restaurant in the South Bronx, New York City, in December 2021.[1][2] This expansion aimed to connect with the Puerto Rican and Dominican communities in the area and was led by Carlos Cortés, the creative director of Chocolate Cortés.[2][3]
The menu design and the restaurant's ambiance incorporate elements of Puerto Rican culture and colonial architecture.[3] The South Bronx location adopted influences from Old San Juan's aesthetic, including checkered floors and arched details.[3]
Reception
[edit]Chocobar Cortés has received attention for its approach to incorporating chocolate into diverse cuisines.[2] Critics have noted the uniqueness of dishes like the chocolate grilled cheese and the combination of sweet and savory flavors.[2] The Bronx location has been described as evoking nostalgia among patrons who associate the brand with family traditions and childhood experiences.[3]
The reception to specific menu items has been mixed, with some dishes, such as the chocolate ketchup, eliciting polarized reactions.[2] Nevertheless, the restaurant has been recognized as a bridge between cultural traditions and modern culinary experimentation.[2][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Morgan, Richard (December 13, 2021). "Chocobar Cortés, a Beloved Restaurant From San Juan, Heads for the Bronx". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Kortava, David (2022-01-28). "Chocolate Grilled Cheese, at Chocobar Cortés NYC". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e Mendez, Bianca (May 31, 2024). "Meet the Man Behind the Bronx's Chocolate-Infused Restaurant". New York City Tourism. Retrieved 2024-12-19.