Planning a Trip to Cuba

Blog #1 – Nicholette Davis

Planning a Trip to Cuba

~Blog #1~

April 11, 2015

By: Nicholette Davis

I am connected with the Cuban culture on a day to day bases for the past three years and throughout the years I experienced so many different Cuban dishes made homemade by some true Cubans. Over the years I fell for the Cuban delicacies and some traditions as well. Also, as some of you might know Cuba and the United States have a long history. Learning that the U.S may possibly get into negotiation with Cuba to open it for U.S citizens, makes me even more interested. Cuba sits only ninety miles from Florida. Many Cuban citizens have fled to Florida for freedom bringing their own culture and traditional food to the United States. The people of Cuba are a mixture of Hispanic and West African. These two nationalities have their own unique food culture which married gave us the Cuban specialties. North of Cuba lies the Bahamas, south is Jamaica. Both countries influenced the cooking in Cuba. Spices, vegetables and fruits were all introduced to Cuba. 

A traditional meal, and one that I experienced, was Ropa Vieja a shredded flank and tomato sauce based dish. It is usually served with black beans, yellow rice, plantains (like bananas) and fried yucca (a root).  Yucca is actually one of my favorite things to have with any Cuban dish, it is almost their French fries. I honestly do not like beans but it is one their biggest food groups and goes with most of all of their dishes. Just like their rice there are many different types they use it just depends on what dish they are making. Rice is one of the best and most healthy food groups they use and to me it is the best thing to make with any dish. Before Cuban food I did not eat much rice but now I eat it with most meals and if cooked right can last long and still taste just cooked.