Last week I brought you Pikayo, which ended up as my favorite restaurant in Puerto Rico. But Chef Wilo Benet, the jolly genius behind Pikayo, has two other restaurants in San Juan, and this week I thought I'd introduce you to Payá. Payá is a far cry (physically and conceptually) from Chef Wilo's flagship restaurant, Pikayo. Where Pikayo is artistic and chic (with prices to match), Payá is down-home and casual. The one constant? The food is always good, with that unique blend of local ingredients and recipes and creative flavor combinations. The mix, in other words, of simple and complex, of the familiar and the out-of-the-box. That's Chef Wilo in a nutshell, and Payá carries it through with beyond-the-basics comfort foods. It's likely not near your hotel, and there are precious few (read: none) tourist attractions nearby (Payá is located in an office park), but if you want to try a new and affordable take on Chef Wilo's recipes, it's worth going "over there" to get it.

Okay, who here knows about the QPTV Awards? Well, for the uninitiated, QPTV, or Que Pasa! TV, is the official TV channel of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. And this year they're launching the 1st QPTV People's Choice Awards, and they want to hear from you to help decide the best in Puerto Rican tourism.

Even if you've never visited any of these selections, I thought I'd share my votes and tell you why I chose them. So ... here goes!

• Hotel of the Year: Of the candidates, I have to give it to the La Concha - A Renaissance Resort for making the biggest splash as a new hotel with beautiful architecture, sleek and stylish decor, an outstanding flagship restaurant, and a hot and sexy nightlife vibe.
• Venue for Events: The Puerto Rican Convention Center is simply a stunning building, not to mention the most state-of-the art structure of its kind in the Caribbean. It's my number one reason why event planners should host their function in Puerto Rico.
• Museum or Gallery of the Year: I was deeply impressed by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico the first time I saw it; after several other visits, nothing has changed. A terrific permanent collection, rotating exhibits by world-renowned artists, a lovely outdoor space and anample chilren's room, it's got it all.
• Event of the Year: I had an absolute blast at Saborea, and completely in awe of the international culinary talent in attendance.
• Touristic Spot of the Year: Wow, this was a tough one. I strongly considered El Yunque, but in the end I went with El Morro, simply for its historical value and iconic status.
• Best Restaurant: I recently answered this very tough (for me) question: the answer was, and is, Pikayo.
• Best Bar, Disco, or Party Corner: For its longstanding dominance, ample room to dance or lounge, great guest DJs, location at one of Puerto Rico's best hotels, and its popularity with anyone who likes to go out at night, I'm giving this one to Brava.

Those are my entries. How did you vote?

Ahh, it's that time of year in Puerto Rico; when the smells of pavochon and mofongo stuffing come wafting through the doors of many a home, where guineos en escabeche are served with turkey, and where you can expect coconut custard for dessert ... it's all part of the fun of celebrating a Puerto Rican thanksgiving.

So how can you enjoy the holiday in typical boricua style. Here are three suggestions to whet your appetite.:

• The Wyndham Rio Mar in Puerto Rico is giving its guests a "Feast On The Beach," a buffet of traditional Thanksgiving fare, with rates starting at $209 per night; the package is available November 24-30.
• One of my favorite tour companies, Legends of Puerto Rico, invites you to Thanksgiving in Guavate, a full-day tour to the Puerto Rican countryside where you can eat roasted pork (another holiday favorite) with typical 'Rican side dishes, or turkey (if you must) and even vegetarian dishes. The tour is $55 per person.
• The El Conquistador Resort has a nice array of activities to keep your mind and body stimulated during Thanksgiving weekend (check out their full list), and you'll probably need them both after overindulging on the $39 buffet at their Grand Atlantic Ballroom. And when you've exerted enough energy, cool off with a pumpkin cream body wrap at their Golden Door Spa. Not a bad way to complete your Thanksgiving holiday in Puerto Rico.

Trust me, it wasn't easy. I had so many candidates on my "best restaurant in Puerto Rico" short list. It's a tribute to the terrific array of dining destinations around the island, from San Juan to the islands of Vieques and Culebra. But in the end, one had to reign supreme (to quote TV's original "Iron Chef"), and that culinary champion turned out to be Pikayo. What made it rise to the top of the mountain? The answer has to start with Chef Wilo Benet, a warm and friendly guy who just happens to turn Puerto Rican classics into culinary masterpieces. The food and the ambience at Pikayo are both original and transporting, and it is also the only restaurant (along with Chef Wilo's two other eateries in San Juan) where you can get Chef Wilo's signature wine. Finally, I had to listen to the popular vote. And of all the people I met during my frequent travels to the island, Pikayo was a unanimous choice as Puerto Rico's best. I'm just the latest to add my voice to the crowd.