Recipes range from simple, country-style fare, to more elaborate dishes that are suitable for entertaining. Although we have added our own twists over the years, our recipes are rooted in the classic dishes of Cuba. You won't find any "Nuevo Latino" or Pan-Latin recipes here!
Wherever possible we have made these dishes simple to prepare. You don't need to be a professional chef to create any of the recipes in this book.
You also won't find a lot of esoteric, hard to find, or expensive ingredients such as truffle shavings, couscous, arugula, or anything in aspic!
The recipes are just as easy to make for everyday eating. In fact, most of the recipes in our new book are simple and easy to prepare so you can make some great lunches and dinners at home.
So even if you're not in a party mood, you can treat yourself and your family to a delicious meal.
So which book is right for you? There is only one way to go -- buy both! In these two volumes you will have a great compendium of classic Cuban food recipes. We give you everything you need to start cooking some great Cuban dishes for your family and friends.
We were especially taken by the projected price: an estimated $800 for a whole ham. That led to a discussion with Tyler on whether he’d pay that much for a single ham, especially given that the company was taking orders for a product that might not come to market for five years.
Jamón ibérico may just be the ultimate ham. The ham, more properly called a jamón ibérico de bellota, (there are other types of ibérico ham, but this is the best) is made from the ibérico pig. The pigs are allowed to range free and, several weeks before slaughter, the pigs roam the nearby oak forests where they gorge themselves on fallen acorns. This diet and a dry curing process that the locals have used for generations produce this gold standard of hams.
Tyler was one up on us (as usual) -- he had eaten the jamón ibérico while he was taping in Spain.
That was six years ago...
Imagine how delighted we were to find a sample of this out-of-this-world ham on our doorstep, courtesy of our friends at La Tienda! Now some people might want to eat this delicacy with melon, sautéed peppers, on a cracker with cheese, or on a slice of rustic bread. However, for us there was only one way: bring the jamón to room temperature and eat it all by itself.
It’s almost hard to describe the experience. The ham is rich with fat, much of which is monounsaturated and therefore healthy, like olive oil. Sliced paper thin, it is only moderately chewy and the fat dissolves on the tongue like butter. No matter how you slice it, it’s all about the flavor. Salty yet not overly “hammy” like most American hams, the ibérico has a subtle nutty taste.
We did say the ham is expensive. Whole jamón ibérico de bellota can cost as much as $1,400! If you have a restaurant or tapas bar, this is a great investment. If you have a typical family of four, this might be way beyond your monthly budget.
The good news is that La Tienda sells slices of jamón ibérico de bellota in small, four-ounce packages. Buy one for your family or for that friend or relative who is really into food. Just a slice or two will provide a most memorable experience -- one of those 100 food experiences you must have before you die!
Tavio was born in Cuba and exiled to Miami in the late 1960's. She is known mostly for her use of light and color in her art work. Wells was born and raised in Miami, but her Cuban heritage shines through in her art, which features bold vivid colors. Lately Wells has specialized in painting roosters. Tavio had one of the first galleries in the newly reborn Calle Ocho and was one of the people behind the creation of Cultural Fridays.
Style: Realism, Contemporary
Themes: Cuban-themed, landscapes
Technique: Original oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, Spanish roof tiles ("tejas") and murals
And how did Wells come by the unique name? Was it because she has painted Asian art in the past?
"My aunt was on her death bed when my mother was pregnant with me," Wells says. "She asked my mom to name me after her because she had been very lucky in her life. She passed away before I was born. For a while I was painting geishas and people thought it was interesting that I would sign my paintings ‘Geisha.’"
Tavio and Wells display their work in many venues including, the Miracle Mile Festival, Art in the Park, Cultural Fridays on Eight Street, The Big Five Club, The Hyatt, and several galleries throughout Miami.
They also accept commissions for murals and custom paintings.
Judging by the many tourists we see drinking Coca-Cola and Pepsi, a lack of Cuban soda knowledge is depriving them of a great taste treat. These sodas are available just about everywhere, from a juice stand, to a Cuban sandwich shop, to a Little Havana café, or the local grocery store.
Jupiña
Jupiña (hoo-peen-yah) is a pineapple-flavored soda pop and may just be the sweetest soda pop ever made. The name Jupiña is a contraction of "Jugo de Piña" or pineapple juice.
Ingredients: carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial color and flavor
Materva
Materva is made from a grassy herb, mate that grows in South America. In many countries, dried Yerba Mate leaves are used to brew a hot drink, a lot like coffee or tea. Mate tea is especially popular in Argentina, where an elaborate ritual has grown around its preparation and consumption. An extract is made from the mate and used to flavor this popular soft drink. Many people find the flavor to be similar to ginger ale. Materva is distributed by Cawy.
Ingredients: carbonated water, sugar and/or high fructose corn sweetener, tartaric acid, extract of mate, caramel color, other artificial flavors, and caffeine.
Coco Rico
Coco Rico is a coconut-flavored soda made to mimic the flavor of coconut juice. A very light and only slightly sweet tasting pop. We believe that Coco-Rico is produced in Puerto Rico.
Ingredients: carbonated water, sugar and/or high fructose corn sweetener, and coconut extract.
Iron Beer
Although some compare it to root beer, Iron Beer (pronounced "E-run-beer") is a close cousin to Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb. There is a basic cola flavor with cherry highlights. It's been bottled for more than 80 years. In fact, legend has it that the original beverage was delivered to a popular Havana cafeteria in 1917 by a mule-driven cart.
Ingredients: carbonated water, high-fructose corn sweetener, citric acid, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors
Malta
Malta is made from malt -- the same stuff used in brewing beer. It’s no surprise that Malta is frequently a product of beer brewing companies. The one from Cuba is Malta Hatuey. Cubans like to use Malta Hatuey to make a drink that is about half Malta and half sweetened condensed milk.
Ingredients: carbonated water, caramel malt, mello malt, high-fructose corn sweetener, and hops.
In “Macheteros,” Wells has achieved an almost stained glass quality. She uses swaths of vibrant, almost pure color separated by heavy black outlines. She takes the subject matter to its simplest form depicting the cane cutters in an economical, direct manner. At the same time, she shows movement and an interesting composition where both the workers and the cane are encased by the framework of the cart.
