With more than 20 years of experience and a vast knowledge or both local and international cuisine, Jose Santaella is emerging as one of the most prominent chefs in Puerto Rico’s gastronomy. From Puerto Rico, Barcelona, New York and even San Francisco, Santaella has worked with globally acclaimed chefs, such as Ferran Adria (El Bulli), Eric Ripert (Le Bernadin) and Gary Danko (The Dining Room). Santaella’s passion for cooking began at a very early age when he cooked alongside his father, who owned several restaurants and cafeterias. His passion for cooking, tied to his unique personality, drove him to become one of the most respected chefs in Puerto Rican cuisine. Jose Santaella is the chef and executive director of JSB Cooking Group, the premier catering company in San Juan, established in 1993. In July of 2011 he opened his first restaurant, Santaella, to much acclaim. Since its opening, the restaurant has been reviewed in a variety of known culinary magazines and channels such as Departures, Delta Sky Magazine, Travelchannel.com, Air Canada en Route, Cigar Aficionado, MARIE CLAIRE and recently in Food & Wine.