Cuban cuisine
Cuban cuisine is “cocktail” from the traditions of Creole, African, Spanish and Chinese cuisine: her dishes are delicious, simple and nutritious.
National cuisine of Cuba
Almost no meal is complete without fruit: fried bananas and pineapples in sauce, fruit cocktails and salads in freshly chopped coconut are served on the table. In addition, they are used to prepare sauces for fish and meat. Salted cod is a popular product in Cuba: it is used, for example,, “sofrito” - a dish, which, in addition to cod, includes vegetables and spices (all this is stewed in oil). This dish is complemented by fried bread..
Lovers of sweets treat themselves to Cuban ice cream on Liberty Island (“coppelia”), sweet guava pie (“masa real de guayaba”), cheese dessert with fruit, bananas “flambé” (they are decorated with mint and almonds, after dipping them in hot caramel).
Popular Cuban dishes:
- “arroz con polio” (a dish of chicken stew with rice);
- “ajiaco crioglio” (a dish in the form of a thick Cuban soup with the addition of corn, meat, yucca, lemon, pumpkin, banana and sauce);
- “congry” (dish with rice and cauliflower);
- “picadillo” (roast with beef, rice, black beans, tomatoes and peppers);
- “medallion-mango” (beef, wine, mango and spice stew).
Where to try Cuban cuisine?
Despite the fact that there are not so many classic restaurants on Liberty Island, it will not be difficult for you to find them - barkers will help you with this (they will show you the way).
It is unlikely that you will be disappointed with the service in Cuban restaurants, since the main income of employees of catering establishments consists of tips (it is customary to leave 10% of the bill). Tip: carefully study the menu before placing an order - in some food outlets in tourist places, up to 25% service charges are added to the invoice amount.
In order to satisfy hunger in Havana, it is recommended to visit “El aljibe” (here you should try the signature dish - “pollo asado”, served with bitter orange sauce), in Santiago de Cuba - “Paladar Salon Tropical” (This Cuban restaurant treats its guests mainly to chicken dishes, as well as a variety of rum-based cocktails).
Cooking classes in Cuba
Tourists vacationing in Cuba can take a delicious journey along gastronomic routes related to traditional or modern Cuban cuisine (on the last route they will be waiting for tasting and taking part in the preparation of banana chips, malanga and corn fritters, and banana balls).
A trip to Cuba can be timed to coincide with a food festival “Varadero Gourmet” (June, Varadero), during which guests will be delighted with master classes, tastings, product presentations, contests and other entertainment events.
