Where Culinary Dreams Meet Passport Stamps
Globally Booked, Deliciously Reviewed with Mariola San Juan
Your ultimate destination for luxurious dining inspiration, international restaurant reviews, and irresistible food photography curated by Mariola San Juan Roman — globe-trotter, food enthusiast, and five-star connoisseur.
From the cobbled streets of Rome to the candlelit cafés of Paris, Mariola takes you on an unforgettable culinary journey, sharing honest reviews, must-try menus, and insider foodie secrets across the world’s most iconic cities.
ABOUT MARIOLA
Mariola San Juan | Booked Travel Itinerary Designer & Global Food Curator
Raised between the sunny shores of Puerto Rico and the vibrant city of Orlando, Florida, Mariola San Juan Roman embodies a rare blend of Latina warmth, island soul, and European sophistication. Her global adventures are more than a feast for the senses — they are a celebration of culture, flavor, and elevated travel.
With a professional background in biotechnology, Mariola brings precision and curiosity to every plate she tastes and every destination she explores. Her passion for luxury dining, paired with her love for cultural immersion, has made her a sought-after voice in the world of travel and fine cuisine.
But her expertise doesn’t stop at food reviews.
Services
Plan Your Next Escape with Mariola San Juan
Whether you're dreaming of wine-paired tasting menus in Tuscany, rooftop brunches in Paris, or a street food crawl through Barcelona, Mariola now offers personalized travel and dining itineraries for individuals, couples, and small groups.
Curated luxury restaurant bookings
Custom foodie itineraries across Europe & the Caribbean
Boutique hotel and experience recommendations
Cultural insights and dining etiquette guidance
One-on-one consultations for your next culinary escape
I don’t just help you travel — I help you taste the world.
The Bold Bite
Booked, Not Biased | Honest Flavor from Mariola San Juan’s Global Plate
Grilled Lobster Under the Amalfi Stars
If there’s one thing I’ve learned while dining across Europe, it’s this: the simplest dishes are often the most unforgettable — especially when you're perched along Italy’s glittering Amalfi Coast with a glass of chilled white wine and a warm sea breeze in your hair. This freshly grilled lobster was the highlight of my booked dinner at a tucked-away gem in southern Italy. Plated whole and served with a vibrant selection of oils, citrus, herbs, and aioli, the dish felt like a celebration of the sea itself.
Presented on traditional hand-painted ceramic — complete with lemon motifs straight out of a postcard — the lobster was grilled to perfection. Lightly charred on the shell, tender on the inside, and naturally sweet without being drowned in butter or garlic. As someone raised between Orlando, Florida and Puerto Rico, seafood always had a place on my plate. But this Italian approach? It’s a masterclass in restraint. The sauces were subtle — olive oil, lemon reduction, herbed aioli, and a garlic-infused butter — each enhancing without overpowering.
Best sauce pairing: the lemon-herb olive oil
Side recommendation: grilled zucchini and house-made focaccia
Bonus: The chef came out to personally describe the lobster’s sourcing, caught that morning by a local fisherman just a few kilometers away
This meal wasn’t just booked — it was earned. After a long day of winding roads and Vespa adventures, sitting down to this meal felt like a love letter from Italy herself.
A Seaside Bowl in Southern Italy
If there’s one dish that will make you cancel all future dinner plans and rebook a flight to southern Italy, this is it. Somewhere between the scent of the sea breeze and the warm, rustic aroma of tomato broth, I found heaven — and it was served in hand-painted ceramic with fish motifs and fresh basil. This gorgeous bowl of paccheri al ragù di mare (thick pasta with seafood ragù) was a standout during my Italian coastal tour, and as a booked travel food blogger, I don’t say that lightly. Lunch was booked at a seaside ristorante with views that stretched beyond the Amalfi cliffs. The sun hit the turquoise tiles just right, my Aperol spritz sparkled like it knew it was about to go viral, and then — this bowl arrived.
Pasta: Thick-cut paccheri, perfectly al dente
Sauce: A light yet flavorful tomato-seafood broth, slow-simmered
Seafood: Tender bits of white fish, kissed by the Mediterranean
Finish: Topped with basil and unapologetic pride
It was earthy yet elevated. Simple but artfully done. The kind of dish that reminds you why Italian food isn't just about eating — it’s about feeling. This meal was more than booked — it was blessed. And it’s exactly the kind of hidden culinary gem I live for.
This Italian Pizza Was Anything But Basic
When in Italy, it’s easy to assume pizza is pizza — until you sit under a lemon tree on a sun-drenched terrace, and a wood-fired beauty like this lands in front of you. Crisped to perfection, topped with garden-fresh arugula, sliced cherry tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella — this wasn’t just lunch. This was a love letter from the Italian countryside. I booked this casual spot on a whim while driving along the coast, craving something lighter than pasta but still unforgettable. And let’s just say, Italy delivered.
Crust: Thin, golden, wood-fired with just the right chew
Toppings: Peppery arugula, fresh cherry tomatoes, soft zucchini rounds, shaved Parmigiano
Sauce: Light — almost invisible — allowing the cheese to speak
Mood: Rustic charm with zero pretension
You know how some pizzas feel heavy? Not this one. It was fresh, clean, and satisfying without the food coma.
This was one of those meals that reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. Growing up between Orlando, Florida and Puerto Rico, food has always been my favorite language. In Italy, I feel fluent.
A Seafood Symphony by the Sea
The view was ocean, the palette was blue, and the platter? A showstopping seafood tower I’ll never forget. I booked this lunch stop after hearing whispers from locals about the freshness of the catch — and every claw, prawn, and oyster delivered cold, clean perfection. With a chilled spritz in hand and the Mediterranean breeze on my skin, this was peak Mariola San Juan. Sometimes the only thing better than the view is what’s iced and waiting at your table.
Churros & Chocolate in Spain
Some people book spa days — I book churros con chocolate. This cozy Spanish café delivered exactly what I needed: crisp, golden churros paired with the thickest, richest hot chocolate I’ve ever dipped into. As Mariola San Juan, I chase flavors that feel like home — and this indulgent duo tasted like warmth, nostalgia, and a little bit of heaven. If you’re ever in Spain, consider this your official excuse to skip breakfast and go straight for dessert.
Truffle Pasta at Lo Scoglio
There’s a quiet kind of luxury in simplicity — and this truffle pasta from Lo Scoglio da Tommaso proved just that. I booked this lunch expecting seaside glamour, but what arrived was humble elegance in the form of perfectly al dente spaghetti, earthy truffle, and a dusting of Parmigiano. The basil leaf was a final wink from the kitchen — no frills, just flavor. For Mariola San Juan, this was a reminder that the best meals don’t need to shout — they whisper.
Booked & Plated: A Visual Feast from Mariola’s Travel Table
Booked & Balanced: How to Travel in Luxury Without Burnout
From Pipettes to Passport Stamps
Mariola San Juan’s Booked Journey from Biotech Labs to Global Culinary Adventures
Before she ever packed a suitcase for a tasting tour or penned a food story, Mariola San Juan Roman was fully immersed in the world of biotech—an environment driven by curiosity, experimentation, and precision. But while her lab notebook tracked cell cultures and research findings, her mind was already booked for discovery far beyond the microscope.
Her love for food and travel wasn’t just a break from the lab—it was an extension of it. Each destination became an experiment in culture, each meal a form of data worth savoring:
A surprise tasting menu in Milan that shifted her idea of simplicity and refinement.
A late-night crêpe in Montmartre that revealed the art of storytelling through flavor.
A beachside ceviche in San Juan that grounded her in her heritage while fueling her global perspective.
Every journey left more than a stamp in her passport—it left insight, inspiration, and stories waiting to be shared. “Booked in the Lab” was born as a place to bridge science and storytelling, showing how method and curiosity can lead to extraordinary flavors.
Whether you’re a science nerd, a travel junkie, or a food lover chasing your next unforgettable bite, Mariola invites you to join her on a journey where exploration begins in the lab but always ends at the table.
FAQS
Where can I learn more about Mariola San Juan’s booked travel experiences?
You can explore Mariola’s global culinary adventures right here on the blog under the Explore Mariola's Journey section. Each story highlights her most memorable meals, destinations, and the restaurants she personally booked and reviewed — from Italy to Puerto Rico. You’ll also find behind-the-scenes content and cultural tips from her trips. For real-time updates, follow @Mariolasj on Instagram, where her booked journeys come to life daily.
Can Mariola help me get restaurants booked during my trip?
Yes! Mariola offers custom travel and dining itinerary services where she’ll help you get exclusive reservations booked at top-rated restaurants across the globe. Whether you’re after Michelin-starred dining or hidden local gems, she’ll make sure your foodie journey is seamless. Just head to the Services page to get started
What’s the most unforgettable experience Mariola has ever booked?
One of Mariola’s most unforgettable booked experiences was a private truffle tasting lunch in the hills of Tuscany, paired with wine from a local family-run vineyard. The setting was intimate, the food was honest, and the entire moment felt cinematic. It’s meals like these that inspired her to turn her travels into a full-time food blog. Every booked trip comes with its own story — and that one is still her favorite.