A Taste of Cuba

Cynthia Carris Alonso is an acclaimed photographer, a writer, and the author of Passage to Cuba. Since 1992 she has regularly traveled to Cuba, documenting its news, musicians, and culture for music recording companies and publications such as Newsweek, Vanity Fair, BusinessWeek, and People en Español. Alonso has appeared as a Cuba consultant on national television, in print, and on radio. Her images have exhibited throughout the United States and in Canada and Brazil. She lives in New York City.
José Luis Alonso is a teacher, writer, and award-winning children's book author of Secretos con mi Almohada, published in Cuba in 1980. Alonso was born in Cuba and met Cynthia Carris Alonso, now his wife, in Havana. Together, the couple has collaborated on numerous lectures and exhibits to celebrate Cuban culture. Prior to working in academia, Alonso was a chef and restaurant manager. He lives in New York City.
Valerie Feigen is a self-taught chef who previously worked as a lawyer, stock analyst, and co-owner of Edit, a women's fashion specialty store. At age seventeen, Feigen professionally baked and sold her buttercrunch candy to food stores in New York City and Philadelphia. Feigen writes the blog recipistsdiary.com and each entry includes a memory and one or more of her original recipes. Feigen and Cynthia Carris Alonso met when they were five years old and have been friends ever since. Feigen was the inspiration for Marisa Tomei's character in The Big Short. She lives in New York City.

PREFACE
CHAPTER ONE: OLD HAVANA
Ivan Chefs Justo

• Fish Croquettes with Plantains
• Fish Filet Over Chickpeas
• Fish Ceviche

Al Carbon

• Grilled Al Carbon Chicken
• Chicken with Rice
• Yuca with Garlic Sauce
• Meringue Cookies
• Four-Milk Cake
• Dulce de Leche

Los Mercaderes

• Lobster with Pineapple

Hotel Saratoga

• Olga's Butter Cookies

CHAPTER TWO: CENTRAL HAVANA
La Guarida

• Puree of Vegetable Soup
• Eggplant Caviar in Tomato Coulis
• Fish Tacos with Fried Yam Taco Shells
• Boniato and Plaintain Chips
• Grilled Fish
• Ravioli
• Three-Milk Dark Chocolate Cake

San Cristóbal

• Grilled Chicken with White Rice, Black Beans, and Sweet Plantains
• Grandmother's Garden Salad
• Fillet of Fish Florida with Orange Sauce
• Havana Temptation: Steak Strips with Grandmother's Demi-Glace Sauce
• Green Papaya in Simple Syrup with Cheese

CHAPTER THREE: VEDADO
Café Laurent

• Café Laurent-Style Fried Plantains
• Caramel Cake

California Café

• Cuban Sandwich
• Chard and Egg Stir-Fry
• Tropical Shrimp

El Atelier

• Salmon Roll with Eggplant
• Tomato Terrine with Prosciutto
• Almond Pesto Sauce
• Smoked Salmon with Pesto Cream Cheese
• Duck à l'Orange
• Ratatouille
• Leg of Lamb
• Octopus Salad
• Malanga Fritters
• Surf and Turf

El Litoral

• Serrano Ham Croquettes with Four-Cheese Sauce
• Four-Cheese Sauce
• Fried Beef
• Sweet Guava Shells with Cream Cheese and Guava Syrup
• Lime Meringue Pie

El Cocinero

• Japanese Salad
• Mini Cheeseburgers

CHAPTER FOUR: MIRAMAR
La Cocina de Lilliam

• Homemade Bread
• Tuna Bruschetta
• Seafood Paella
• Fish Stock

Élite

• Mixed Green Salad
• Bruschetta
• Fisherman's Pasta

CHAPTER FIVE: JAIMINITAS ("FUSTERLANDIA")

• Fusterlandia Cake

CHAPTER SIX: VIÑALES PINAR DEL RÍO
Finca Agroecologica el Paraiso

• Anti-Stress Drink
• Flan

CHAPTER SEVEN: CIENFUEGOS
Villa Lagarto

• Green Plantain Chips
• Vegetable Soup
• Shredded Beef
• Roasted Pork with Rice Mixed with Beans

CHAPTER EIGHT: TRINIDAD
Sol Ananda

• Shredded or Pulled Pork
• Glazed Fruits

Davimart

• Mixed Seafood Grill
• Grilled Fish
• Chocolate Covered Bananas

CHAPTER NINE: COJIMAR
Ajiaco Café

• Vegetable Empanadas
• Ajiaco Stew
• Fresh Fruit Cocktail
• Frozen Mojito
• Rice Pudding with Mojito Granita

CHAPTER TEN: CUBAN BEVERAGES

• Classic Daiquiri
• Hemingway Daiquiri
• Classic Mojito
• Simple Syrup
• DuPont Special
• Cuba Libre
• Cubanito Cocktail
• Vigía Cocktail with Sugarcane Juice
• La Guarida Coffee

RECIPE INDEX