This month’s news: Delighted to be asked to be the Cuba expert for Essentialist.com
Cuban food on a plate – gorgeous recipe book published
Think of Cuba and you don’t instantly think of gourmet food, spicy dishes, or a smorgasbord of pimped up Creole cuisine. But cooking and dining and sourcing are changing on the island through its private restaurant entrepreneurs, organic farm movement, and a need to stop importing so much food for its 11 million-strong population, and 4 million visitors.
Madelaine Vázquez Gálvez and Imogene Tondre in Phaidon’s Cuba: The Cookbook (published June 1) look at how Cuba’s history of colonisation, African slavery, immigration from Haiti, China, and Jamaica, trade, and food rationing has influenced the island nation’s food palate and plate.
Recipes are arranged from appetisers through to desserts, and a whole spread features Cuba’s carbohydrate staple, white rice. The authors also highlight places on the island nurturing their own culinary traditions. My favourites are Baracoa, in the far east, and Gibara, on the north coast.
As well as beautifully illustrated recipes, anecdotes make their way onto the page about foods which have made their way into common language:
‘Rice is so deeply entrenched in Cuban culture that it is used in some common sayings, such as “arroz con mango,” which refers to a commotion of some kind.’
And little tidbits of culinary history introduce a number of recipes. The origin of the moreish fufu (mashed plantain) is explained: ‘According to Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz, the British also brought African slaves (specifically Ghanaian slaves) to Cuba during their brief rule. When the British fed the slaves their food, usually boiled and mashed plantains, they would say “Food, food,” which is origin of the name of this dish.’
The book is accompanied by gorgeous photography by Sidney Bensimon, and Louise Morgan.
Cuba: The Cookbook published by Phaidon (£29.95)
Black Bean Soup. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 75)
Fish Fillet from Baracoa. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 171)
Taro Root, Pineapple, and Cucumber Soup. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 69)
Taro Root, Pineapple, and Cucumber Soup. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 69)
Black Bean Soup. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 75)
Fish Fillet from Baracoa. Picture credit: photography by Sidney Bensimon (page 171)
Wild camping, e-bikes & motorhomes in a post-Castro Cuba
Go now for the new adventures. My piece for Adventure.com:
On the rails in Cuba article for Wanderlust
I took the train across Cuba exploring off-the-beaten track parts of the island for Wanderlust Magazine:
https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/cuba-rail-off-the-beaten-track/
My 48 hours in Havana for Indy Travel
Heading to Havana this spring? Take my IndyTravel guide to explore the gorgeous Cuban capital http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/havana-cuba-things-to-do-best-restaurants-hotels-bars-city-guide-a8219666.html
Why you should visit Santiago de Cuba
Why you should visit Santiago de Cuba. My post for The Holiday Place: http://holidayplace.co.uk/blogs/posts/118456/santiago-de-cuba-whats-new-in-cubas-second-city
Exploring Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town
Exploring Kirstenbosch in Cape Town for +The Holiday Place plc http://holidayplace.co.uk/blogs/posts/118754/the-floral-kingdom-of-kirstenbosch-cape-towns-blooming-botanical-gardens
Cruising Havana in a classic car
My post for Weather2Travel.com on cruising the Cuban capital in a vintage American car: https://www.weather2travel.com/blog/see-havana-in-style-with-classic-car-tour.php?r=home
Exploring the Secrets of Matanzas, Cuba
Why you should visit Cuba’s city of Matanzas. Swing by for its music, art, sculpture, rumba, and B&Bs. My post for The Holiday Place:
http://holidayplace.co.uk/blogs/posts/118436/exploring-the-secrets-of-matanzas …
My Bolivian jungle Daniel Radcliffe film story for Indy Travel
My story for The Independent on the Bolivian jungle that inspired Daniel Radcliffe’s latest film: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/madidi-national-park-bolivia-jungle-film-daniel-radcliffe-yossi-ghinsberg-a8069996.html
