We had a great time participating in the "Tour of Kitchens" charity event for the Lighthouse of Pinellas at Watson Center on Sunday, April 2. The Tour is an annual event in Pinellas County near Tampa. Each of the homes on the tour features a guest chef. We had the pleasure of cooking in the kitchen of Ed Halleran and Steve Sika, who have a beautiful Victorian era home on a fantastic lot overlooking the ocean.

Approximately 350 people came through the house on the tour, keeping us very busy preparing paella (four large paellas), tostones, Cuban bruschetta, and salad. Maybe we were too generous with the samples -- everything we made seemed to disappear as soon as we put it out!

We enjoyed meeting so many nice people and a special thanks to everyone who bought a copy of our book in support of the Lighthouse charity.

Our next appearance is at the annual Cuba Nostalgia event in Miami. We'll be signing books and doing a cooking demonstration. We'll be on hand each evening during the show.

Phyllis the housekeeper saved the day by cleaning up after us!

Our second book, "Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban," is currently in production. The new book features 100 Cuban food recipes all centered on a Cuban party theme. The book is really about so much more -- Cuban culture, Cuban holidays, Cuban traditions, Cuban parties and more.

The new book has even more photographs than our first book. There will be more than 50 photos of prepared dishes alone!

"Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban" (ISBN 1423600630) will be published by Gibbs Smith Publisher in September 2006.

Watch THIS SPACE for more updates and find out how you can order an advance copy of our new book.

"Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban"

Coming Soon to a Bookstore Near You!

The Three Guys pose with homeowners Ed Halleran and Steve Sika.

Cuba Nostalgia

Fair-Expo Center

Coral Way & 112th Avenue at Tamiami Park Next to FIU in Miami, Florida

Friday, May 19, 2006

11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Saturday, May 20, 2006

11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Sunday, May 21, 2006

11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Nephew Neil the Banker took charge of selling books.

Jorge's daughter Allison, wife Mary, and our cousin Daisy sample the paella.

Glenn poses with one of the beautiful orchids found throughout the house.

Raúl and Glenn take charge in the kitchen.

The beautiful home of Ed Halleran and Steve Sika.

Many people are surprised to find out that we don't just cook Cuban. Yes, we actually enjoy dishes from many countries. Of course, we do have a natural affinity to Spanish and Latin-American cuisines. The Santa Fe style of cooking, an amalgam of Spanish, Native American, Mexican, Southwest, and New Age cuisine has always intrigued us. When we want to "kick it up a notch" on the hot and spicy meter, we like to cook Mexican food. And we love tacos and freshly prepared salsas.

A new book from the Santa Fe School of Cooking has re-energized our taco skills and given us a new appreciation for the flavors of the Southwest. We especially enjoy the variety of inspired salsas -- everything from roasted corn and Anasazi bean to cherry pistachio. For our Cuban audience, the grilled pineapple and grapefruit-orange salsas are right up your alley, offering flavors and a heat level that isn't far removed from Cuban cuisine.

Two taco recipes really knocked our socks off: hot and smoky shrimp tacos and roasted wild mushroom tacos with queso fresco. Not classically Mexican, these fusion dishes really deliver some unique flavors. We were also delighted to find a recipe in the book for apple pie tacos -- again, we never saw this one in Mexico, but what a great idea for dessert!

Salsas and Tacos is a nice little book in a beautiful package with enticing photographs and easy-to-follow instructions. A perfect gift for the food lover and at this price, why not buy several and make several people happy?