José González

Chef | AL MERCAT

Chef Jose Gonzalez had the opportunity to grow up in three Latin American countries during his childhood (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador) and thus be exposed to the taste the diverse range of Latin American produce. In 2006, after 5 years of studying Law, he decided to pursue culinary studies in Paris, France, at Le Cordon Bleu (Grand Diplome). After completing his culinary studies, he became part of the Stella Maris Restaurant (1 Michelin Star) in Paris, Chateau Robert in the Gascony region of Southwest France, and Le Prés d’Eugenie (3 Michelin Stars) also in the south of France. After five years in France, he returned to Costa Rica in late 2011 where he started Al Mercat, a restaurant featuring Costa Rican cuisine inspired by the fresh produce from his urban farm and various markets and farmers in his country. At Al Mercat, he has conducted research in various areas of Costa Rica, as well as initiatives for gastronomic tourism development. The project "Costa Rica: Edible Country" is a cultural interest movement resulting from this research process, aiming to inform Costa Ricans about responsible eating and the diversity available in our country, including wild products. In 2020, with the onset of the pandemic, he decided to conclude a cycle in San Jose where his restaurant had been operating since 2011. After a sabbatical period, he decided to re-launch his Al Mercat project in the mountainous region of Zona de los Santos, focusing on gastronomic tourism and incorporating all the high-altitude products of the region into his cuisine. Jose is a gastronomic ambassador for Costa Rica and the tourism board sharing the richness of Costa Rica’s gastronomic culture in different countries around the world.