Puerto Rico Is Pork Paradise

The adventures of Anthony Bourdain never seem to end on a low note, and this week's episode is no exception as Anthony travels to Puerto Rico to learn the ropes of some the finest and simplest dining on the island, as well as please himself in the company of a few friends and plenty of sunshine.

Bourdain travels around in a red jeep with his friend, Andy, a New York native and a man of Puerto Rican descent. The two comrades take a trip to the small restaurant, "Sonia Rico," where the aroma of whole marinated and roasted pigs entice the taste buds. The pigs are prepared by being rubbed in garlic and smothered with Sofrito sauce; a healthy mixture of tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, and peppers, amidst other herbs and spices. Bourdain claims this meal to be the best of the best, a real treat for someone just visiting the mecca of food in this tropical paradise.

Later Andy and Anthony seek the myth of a farmer and his beloved cow who were lost near a magnificent blowhole in the rocks of the Puerto Rican coast—legend has it that if the farmer's name is called out to the ocean, the waves will rise and splash out of the blowhole as if calling the spirit of the deceased. Bourdain is less than impressed; and more excited about scuba diving the next day to find the infamous colossal lobster—does it exist?

After the dive is over, we find that some myths are hokier than others, and Bourdain will not have to fear a nightmare about the giant crustacean, although he's slaughtered many of their cousins. When the lobster hunt is over, Bourdain visits one of Puerto Rico's most prized possessions—the Paso Fino horse. Anthony tries his hand at riding one of the quick-gaited mares, at first a bit clumsily but then getting the hang of the horseback riding experience. One of the last stops on Andy and Anthony's journey is a street vendor who sells Chicaronnes, a crispy deep fried piece of pig served with fresh baked bread. At the end of the night, the two sated men visit the festival in town that celebrates the Virgin Mary and agree that the pig in Puerto Rico is made with all the love and care of any country's signature meal.