A Taste of Cuba

In a country shrouded in secrecy, a mouthwatering, but little-known food scene thrives. A Taste of Cuba offers unprecedented entry into the kitchens of Cuba’s top chefs, where the country’s most delectable dishes are created, and the chefs share their techniques, inspiration, and best recipes for the very first time. Renowned Cuba photographer Cynthia Carris Alonso and her Cuban husband, José Luis Alonso, will take you with them on their ride through Havana and around the country, as they stop in Cuba’s twenty top paladares—private, family-owned establishments. Inside you’ll see how Cuban chefs are world-class inventive, adapting their dishes based on the changing ingredients available on the market, and get their recipes, recorded on paper for the very first time. The result allows you to make classic dishes such as ropa vieja, frijoles negros, and maduros—stewed beef, black beans, and sweet plantains—as well as more elaborate foods, such as eggplant caviar, fish tacos, and ham croquettes. Here too are the recipes for dreamy alfajores con dulce de leche; drinks such as Hemingway’s papa doble daiquiri of legend; and much more. Between visits with the chefs, you’ll walk the streets of Cuba, experiencing its colorful culture and seeing its lush landscapes up close. Stunning photos of Cuba and insightful text about its regions and culture are throughout. This new second edition of A Taste of Cuba offers a wealth of new photos and recipes, as well as text about recent changes affecting Cuba.