PROFILE: Jorge Matos
A rest well deserved after a career well done …
The municipality of Sabana Grande is located in the western coastal valleys of Puerto Rico some 1,144 miles from Boca Grande. This small town is surrounded by public forest land and packed with history and architectural gems. It has been nicknamed the Town of Petateros in honor of the multigenerational artisans who make petate, a mat woven from a specific type of palm leaf. The most famous petate weaver of the town is Doña Monserrate Montalvo, but its most famous chef is perhaps Jorge Matos.
Jorge, the oldest of six, was born on June 23, 1939 in Sabana Grande. It is the birthplace of numerous notable Puerto Rican writers, musicians, comedians, athletes, and culinary artists. Growing up near and around the Susua State Forest area, Jorge’s father knew first-hand that the soil was ideal for planting and growing crops of avocados, mangos and coffee beans. While caring for the Matos children, Jorge’s mother worked the hills harvesting coffee beans and raising pigs. Jorge’s uncle would butcher the meat for his mother, who would then sell it to the townspeople.
Located on the foothills of the central mountain range of Puerto Rico, the 3,240-acre Susua State Forest is a transitional forest between Guanica Dry Forest on the south and Maricao humid forest to the north.The nearest school was situated in the tiny suburb of San Antonio, on the far west side of Sabana Grande. When Jorge turned 17, his grandmother gave him $100 so that he could move out on his own and begin to look for his first real job. He used the money wisely to travel to the U.S. and quickly succeeded in finding work for himself in a mushroom factory located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Jorge earned $8,000 before he moved on to find warmer climate work, picking oranges in Hollywood, Fla. He eagerly traveled back home to Puerto Rico and married at age 19 for the first time. Together he and his wife had four children – Anna Matos, Lisa Matos, Jorge Matos Jr. and Bennie Matos. They also have five grandchildren.
When picking season ended, Jorge would travel north to Newport, N.Y. His love of food came partly from growing up on a farm, but Jorge always had big culinary dreams. He began his pursuit by washing dishes and traveling to resorts throughout New England when harvest season ended.Over time, Jorge managed to work his way up through the ranks as a relief cook. He traveled and worked kitchens in Canada, Vermont and Crow Island before finally landing his dream job at The Gasparilla Inn.
While working numerous positions in fine dining kitchens, Jorge managed to successfully hone his skills.
In terms of hierarchy, if there is an executive chef, the head chef reports only to him, and if there is no executive chef, the head chef reports directly to the restaurant owner or manager.
Jorge worked for Gasparilla Inn owners Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Sharp creating menus, planning events, training staff, catering private parties and taking on more than his share of special requests. One such request Jorge will never forget.
“In my 22 years of working as a breakfast cook, I always considered western omelets to be my specialty,” he said. “One morning, a special order came into the kitchen from the dining room for a western omelet. I decided to add my secret ingredient – hot sauce – before sending the omelet out of the kitchen and on its way to the dining room.”
The omelet landed at the head of President George W. Bush’s breakfast table.
Promptly after his breakfast, President Bush himself came back to the kitchen to personally thank and compliment Jorge on his omelet-making skills.
Earlier in his career while working at The Inn, Jorge also had the honor and pleasure of meeting President Jimmy Carter.
In July of 1973, Jorge was married for the second time to his corazoncita, Theresa Padilla. Theresa was most notably one of the last descendants of the Toribio and Juanita Padilla family native to Cayo Costa. Born on October 12, 1918 to Dolly and John Padilla of Cayo Costa, Theresa moved to Boca Grande when she was only two years old. Theresa first laid eyes on Jorge while she was working in housekeeping at The Gasparilla Inn.
“She asked her friend to find out who I was,” chuckled Jorge.
Back in those days it was easy to spot Jorge anywhere on the island in his bright yellow Chevy Malibu, which he affectionately called, “Banana.”
When Jorge was not busy working his 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. shifts at The Inn, he was out playing the back nine holes on the golf course. That started when “one day a French Canadian gentlemen asked if I would like to play golf with him,” Jorge recalled. “I had never played before, so I said yes. I learned right away that golf was not just a game, but it was also about having fun.”
Of course, the tradition of the 19th hole certainly had its appeal as a regular, reliable occasion for the consumption of the only beer Jorge swears he ever consumes … the first one and the last one.
Little did Jorge know that taking up the game of golf would not only be fun and a great excuse to drink his favorite beverage, “Blue Moon,” but a single fortuitous game led Jorge to the opportunity of a lifetime.
“One day out on the golf course, I asked Mr. Sharp about some property on the island that I heard was for sale. I told him that I was interested and he agreed to sell it to me. I was able to build my house here on the island and have happily called it home for 53 years,” he said proudly.
Family is very important to Jorge. “My daughter Debbie and her husband, Robert, come to visit with me regularly. We always make the rounds to The Innlet at the Outlet, the Temp, Millers and South Beach,” he said.
In fact, all of Jorge’s children, grandchildren and extended family come to visit him whenever they can. Jorge enjoys traveling around the states and to Puerto Rico in order to spend time with them as well.
“I like to collect seashells from the beach and make items to give to them. My wife and I spent many days together combing the beach,” Jorge fondly reminisced.
P.G. Wodehouse claimed that “golf is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.” That statement is very apt when it comes to Jorge. In his years of faithful service he fulfilled his culinary dreams and retired from his position at The Gasparilla Inn.
Jorge believes that, just like Michelin-acclaimed Chef Massimo Buttura does, “One day, if you have a little bit of talent and a lot of hard work, you are going to find out who you are.”
These words serve as a reminder that tireless hard work is necessary in order to discover our true path in life … and, of course, in a spirited game of golf.
Salud, Jorge.
