Chef Biography
Dayn Smith was born and raised in Detroit and started working in restaurants at age 11, and also at the Hillcrest Country Club. He graduated from the Culinary Institute at age 19 in 1978, and in 1979 he worked as chef de partie tournant at Le Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne, Switzerland. He then returned to the Westin Detroit Plaza in 1980; then as executive chef at the United Nations Plaza Hotel (1981-85); the St. Moritz Hotel (1985-90); and the Condado Plaza & Casino in Puerto Rico (1990-92).
In 1993, he became the Food & Beverage Manager as well as executive chef of the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico. In 1996, he opened the Stingray Café within the El Conquistador as chef/owner. A year later in 1997, the Great Chefs television crew showed up to tape Chef Dayn Smith for their Great Chefs of Caribbean series and the Discovery Channel.
In 2010, Chef Dayn Smith opened a second restaurant called Perla in the newly renovated Renaissance La Concha Hotel in San Juan.
Recipes
Yautia-wrapped Dorado
Serving: 4 Print Yautia-wrapped Dorado By Great Chefs September 21, 2015 Strands of spiral-sliced yautia — or sweet potato, if yautia is not available in your market — are wrapped around fish fillets, protecting them as they fry and adding their own flavor and texture. The fish is served with braised vegetables and a salsa […]
Bonito Tartare
Print Bonito Tartare By Great Chefs September 17, 2015 Fresh-tasting bonito is mixed into a tartare with red onion, cilantro aioli, and the zing of ginger and cayenne. The molded tartares are garnished with fresh greens, yuca chips, and teriyaki glaze. T\Note that the egg yolk in this recipe is not cooked; if you do […]
Restaurant Information
Phone : (787) 977-3285
Address :1077 Ashford Avenue La Concha – A Renaissance Resort San Juan, PR 00907