Where old world charm meets culinary innovation.
Nestled in the heart of Old San Juan, Pio Pio combines luxury with comfort, creating a haven for locals and tourists seeking exceptional food, wine, and cocktails. Beyond its historic walls, Pio Pio stands out for its conscientiously curated list of elegant, lesser-known champagne and wine menu that strikes a balance of luxury and comfort, followed by an array of foods that showcase products from local farms, farmers, and fishermen.
Chef Ciarán Elliott and Laura Madera Nadal, co-owner and beverage director, opened the doors to Pio Pio June of 2021, transforming a 300-year-old building into a lively, intimate space that accommodates around 35 customers. But the historic nature of Old San Juan posed infrastructure hurdles, especially when renovating and installing new kitchen equipment.
“When we were given the opportunity to implement RATIONAL equipment into our tools, we were obviously fully on board, but it was an issue because this isn't an ideal space, and we weren't starting from zero,” Madera Nadal says.
“Old San Juan is very finicky with water connections and electrical; these are buildings that have been around for over 300 years, so there's been a lot of layers of work. This is a machine that requires a lot of thought and intention into its nesting ground,” she says. After trouble with installation, RATIONAL team members came to Pio Pio to support the process.
A local team effort to tackle every challenge.
What followed was a team effort to overcome each obstacle. Alex Ramirez, Director of Service for RATIONAL USA, orchestrated the collaboration of regional technical experts, local sales partners, and even a mainland partner with specialized knowledge. The result was a successful installation that allowed Pio Pop to harness the power of the RATIONAL iCombi Pro in their kitchen.
“You need a unique solution in most cases,” Ramirez says. “We were able to utilize our local team here on the ground to help come up with that solution, and ultimately led to a nice successful installation for the customer that allowed them to utilize the RATIONAL system and their facility as they intended to.”
Versatility and performance in a small footprint.
The iCombi Pro is an indispensable tool that allows the chefs at Pio Pio to navigate the limitations of a compact space. In an all-electric, non-ventilated kitchen, the RATIONAL UltraVent recirculating hood removes most of the aromas and steam that emanate from the combi oven.
“We keep our menu so that we’re not frying fish or anything like that to create odors,” Ciarán says. “Basically, we work around the fact that we don't have a hood. It enforces creativity.”
“Our menu is designed around our space and – since we have the RATIONAL – designed around our oven. It allows us to do things that we wouldn't be able to do otherwise.”
In 2024, Chef Jose Alvarez joined Ciarán and Madera Nadal at Pio Pio as co-owner. Alvarez’s background in Caribbean, Asian, and Mexican cuisine is reflected in the menu, with selections like eggplant with mole blanco, lobster rolls with sturgeon caviar, and brisket empanadas. They use the RATIONAL to prepare creamy custards requiring a precise internal temperature; to bake fresh bread with a perfectly crisp crust; and for low temperature overnight cooking for tender pork belly.
“We can proof, we can steam, we can bake, we can grill, in one oven, one space, so it makes our life a lot easier with this tiny kitchen that we have,” Alvarez emphasizes. “If we had a different oven, we couldn't produce as much as we do.”
A worthwhile investment.
“You expect it to last at least a decade or longer, as long as you look after it, so it's definitely a worthwhile investment,” he says of the RATIONAL. “It has all the features that we need, and it elevates our cooking and helps us maintain the level of consistency that we want.”
In the words of Madera Nadal, “Chefs like nice things. A happy chef is a happy kitchen, and RATIONAL makes chefs happy.” Pio Pio stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, creating an inviting space where the food and drink can truly shine.
- Industry:
Restaurant - Core business:
Casual dining - Location:
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA - The challenge:
Overcome site and installation challenges in a historic building - The solution:
iCombi Pro
Benefits:
- iCookingSuite – monitoring and support to deliver results exactly as specified
- iProductionManager – allows you to prepare different foods at the same time
- iCareSystem – automatic cleaning and descaling
- iDensityControl – intelligent climate management for exceptional productivity and results
- UltraVent – traps steam and vapors using condensation technology