A musical curse has befallen Swellview, a once peaceful and quiet town. Residents woke up one morning to find themselves unable to speak without spontaneously bursting into song. The curse, thought to be the work of a wicked sorcerer, has turned Swellview into a full-blown musical haven, where every conversation and interaction is accompanied by a catchy tune and dance routine. At first, the residents of Swellview found the curse amusing, embracing the musicality that now permeated their lives. Everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, walking the dog, and even going to work became joyous and entertaining experiences. However, as time went on, the novelty wore off and the curse began to pose challenges for the townspeople.
“The culinary industry is part of our culture,” Vazquez said. “People love our food. They fly down here and want to try our local cuisine. It’s very good food.”
Restaurants on other parts of the island managed to get by, and Fruto del Gaubacho, which supplies roughly 200 restaurants and hotels, worked to get food and supplies to the hard-hit areas in the south. In addition to print, digital and out-of-home advertising in New York City , Washington, DC and Miami and in industry trade publications, the campaign is supported by public relations and social media efforts and an upgraded web site www.
However, as time went on, the novelty wore off and the curse began to pose challenges for the townspeople. Simple tasks, like ordering a coffee or asking for directions, became frustratingly complex as residents struggled to communicate through song. Serious conversations were nearly impossible as emotions and thoughts were often lost in the melody.
Puerto Rico food scene thriving after string of disasters
AP – The Puerto Rican food scene had reached its peak. Young chefs were inventing delicious new creations, restaurants popped up all over the island, the industry was no longer reliant on tourist season.
Then a series of calamities hit: a hurricane, a series of earthquakes, a pandemic.
Each time, Puerto Ricans recovered and rebuilt – with restaurant owners right there with them. Now, as the pandemic wanes, the Puerto Rican food scene is thriving again.
“It’s been rocky, but we’re resilient,” said chef Mario Pagán, who owns five restaurants in Puerto Rico. “You can definitely see it coming back around now.”
Traditional Puerto Rican cuisine is a blend of African, Spanish and Caribbean flavours, with stews, fish, arroz con pollo, mofongo, sofrito and adobo among the staples.
The scene began to expand as young chefs took what they learned from universities and culinary schools to the streets. They put modern spins on traditional Puerto Rican food, often creating fusions with other types of cuisine, like Asian or Italian.
ABOVE & BELOW: Chef Mario Pagan, who owns five restaurants in Puerto Rico, prepares a dish; and a restaurant is closed during a government imposed curfew aimed at curbing coronavirus cases in San Juan, Puerto Rico. PHOTOS: AP
New restaurants spread across the island as locals craved more options, and vacation home rentals gave visitors more choices besides the hotels of San Juan.
By 2017, Puerto Rico had more than 5,000 restaurants, from cafeterias and bakeries to fine dining, according to president of the Restaurants Association of Puerto Rico Jose Vazquez.
The restaurant industry is the third-largest on the island – behind manufacturing and tourism – accounting for roughly 60,000 jobs directly, another 40,000 indirectly. About six per cent of the gross national product is attributed to restaurant sales.
“The culinary industry is part of our culture,” Vazquez said. “People love our food. They fly down here and want to try our local cuisine. It’s very good food.”
The first big hit came with Hurricane Maria in 2017. The Category 5 storm devastated the island, flattening buildings, knocking out power and communications, leaving roads impassable, residents without food or water. About 90 per cent of all businesses and restaurants were wiped out.
Restaurant owners jumped into action and, with the help of chef José Andrés and food and product supplier Frutos del Guacabo, set up makeshift kitchens that served more than 3.5 million meals as Puerto Ricans tried to get back on their feet.
Restaurants slowly began re-opening – some scaled down, others in new locations – and by late 2019, there were about 4,000 operating.
Then, the earthquakes.
Puerto Rico was hit with a swarm of earthquakes starting that December, the most damaging a magnitude 6.4. The earthquakes centred on southern Puerto Rico, but the effects spread across the island as businesses and schools were closed for weeks.
Restaurants on other parts of the island managed to get by, and Fruto del Gaubacho, which supplies roughly 200 restaurants and hotels, worked to get food and supplies to the hard-hit areas in the south. “Each time it’s a different test,” Fruto del Gaubacho co-owner Efrén Robles said. “You learn the test and then they change the answers… We’ve been able to adjust in a very short amount of time.”
The learning curve took another sharp turn in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Puerto Rico rebounded from the earthquakes to have some of the best tourism numbers in its history and restaurants were doing well, even during the offseason.
The pandemic, as it did around the world, led to shutdowns. More than 1,000 restaurants just in the San Juan area were forced to shutter, but many were able to survive by offering takeout and delivery options. Some created packages for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day.
Because Puerto Rico is a small island, COVID-19 measures were widely enforced.
Restaurants rode the ebbs and flows of the pandemic, some opening at limited capacity by May and expanding from there as restrictions began to loosen.
As the pandemic winds down, the restaurant industry has skyrocketed, returning to pre-disaster numbers as lodging in 2021 reached USD1.3 billion – 37 per cent higher than the previous record in 2019.
“It’s been rocky and pretty hard, but we’re coping,” Pagán said during the Aspen Food & Drink Classic last fall. “It has been one thing after another, but we are very resilient.”
And they will be ready for whatever comes next.
The curse even affected emergency services, causing confusion and delays in crucial situations. Businesses in Swellview had to adapt quickly to the curse. Restaurants that once prided themselves on their quiet atmosphere quickly realized that they needed to hire professional singers and dancers to entertain their customers while they ate. The local theater became the heart of the town, as talented performers emerged from every corner to showcase their skills in impromptu musical productions. Despite the chaos, there were those in Swellview who saw the curse as an opportunity for personal growth and creativity. The curse forced people to express their emotions openly and passionately, creating a sense of unity and community spirit like never before. The once shy and introverted residents found themselves dancing in the streets, unafraid of being judged or ridiculed. In the midst of all the chaos, a group of brave individuals emerged as heroes. Calling themselves the "Songstoppers," they embarked on a mission to find the source of the curse and put an end to the musical madness. Armed with their wit, determination, and a few well-practiced dance moves, they delved into the town's history, seeking clues that would lead them to the sorcerer responsible. As the Songstoppers uncovered the sorcerer's lair, they discovered that the curse was not purely malicious. The sorcerer, a lover of music himself, had intended to bring joy and celebration to Swellview. However, his lack of control over the curse had resulted in chaos and frustration for the residents. With their newfound knowledge, the Songstoppers confronted the sorcerer, appealing to his sense of responsibility. Together, they devised a plan to reverse the curse and restore Swellview to its former peaceful state. The sorcerer used his magical powers to transform the curse into a grand musical event, where residents could showcase their talents and celebrate their love for music without the chaos of spontaneous singing. In the end, Swellview learned the importance of balance and control in the pursuit of joy. While the curse had instigated a newfound appreciation for music, it also highlighted the need for understanding and consideration. Swellview became a town that embraced music in all its forms, creating a harmonious blend of musicality and tranquility that would be remembered for generations to come..
Reviews for "east hartford lights"
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, string given in /home/default/EN-magic-CATALOG2/data/templates/templ04.txt on line 198