A Taste of BLT Market's New Executive Chef Johnattan Hernandez's Cuisine

Executive Chef Johnattan Hernandez

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach's BLT Market recently welcomed its new Chef de Cuisine, Johnttan Hernandez. Hernandez is no stranger to the Ritz-Carlton brand, having begun his career at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia while studying culinary arts at The Art Institute of Pennsylvania. The Puerto Rico native's accomplishments and accolades are many (gold and silver medal placements in group and individual competitions, Caribbean Chef of the Year honors, Hall of Fame membership in the national Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition, to name a few) and I was fortunate to have been invited to a dinner to get a sneak preview taste of his cuisine.

Brazilian Cheese Bread

Amuse Bouche - Tapioca rice cracker, purple cabbage & avocado puree

Salmon - Maui pineapple, fried nori, soy merenge

Empanadas - Molokai short rib, sweet plantain, truffle aioli

Bone - Molokai beef bone marrow, salsa verde, Ili`ili Farms radish

Beets - Sweet Land Farm goat cheese, Nalo Farm arugula, Manoa honey comb

Pork - 48 hour press belly, pala`ai puree, avocado, purple cabbage

Intermezzo - guava sorbet, Kohana rum

Ora King - Miso trumpets, taro, local sea asparagus

Lemon - Lilikoi curd, black sesame sponge, merengue

I had so many favorites of the evening.  I loved the Empanadas - tender Molokai short rib contrasted nicely with the crispy shell.  The plaintains and truffle aioli gave the dish a nice sweet and savory dimension.

The melt-in-your-mouth Molokai beef bone marrow was another highlight.  The salsa verde and Ili`ili Farms radish elevated the already delightful dish.

I also really enjoyed the 48-hour press pork belly.  The multi-layered, multi-textured piece of pork was just so full of flavor!  

The Ora King salmon was also amazing.  I am not a huge fan of salmon, but this premium salmon from New Zealand was simply delicious!  I also couldn't get enough of the miso trumpets - I could eat an entire dish of those mushrooms!

The Lemon dessert was playful and pleasant, reminiscent of the "lemon peel" I grew up eating as a kid.  

Dinner was fantastic, and I appreciated how each course incorporated locally-sourced ingredients.

BLT Market's new menu will be launching October 9, and I can't wait to go back to try out more of Chef Johnattan Hernandez's dishes!

BLT Market
383 Kalaimoku St
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 729-9729

BLT Market is located on the 8th floor lobby level of The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach and offers up to four hours of validated valet parking to guests visiting the restaurant.