In the middle of the crazy that is Downtown LA, there is now a respite from city life. The new Don Francisco's Coffee Casa Cubana is the place you never knew you always wanted. (Well, I know I've always wanted a place to get wonderful Cuban food in Los Angeles, but that's not important right now.) I want to say right up front that this is not ...
Cuban food
Cuban Coffee is Everything
I take it for granted that there will always be Cuban coffee in the house. In fact, I don't even give it a second thought. My grocery list always has "Café Cubano" in a regular position. Before you ask, yes, we do consume that much espresso, but that's not important right now. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that it's the same way ...
‘Chef’ Inspired Birthday Celebration
"You throw the BEST parties," she said to me, "Why aren't you sharing them on your blog?" It's true. Even if I do say so myself. I throw great parties. Actually, I have to say WE. I am pretty much just the idea person, and it absolutely takes a village to make my great ideas happen. WARNING: Lots of colorful photos and extensive party details ...
Love My Skinny Latina
You know those people you meet online and instantly hit it off with? That's what happened when I had my first phone conversation with the lovely Ana "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful" Quincoces. (That's just what I call her, but that's not important right now.) This was many years ago before she was a Food Network Star and the darling of the ...
The Smart Cuban’s Christmas Gift Guide
Who doesn't appreciate a little shopping help at this time of year? Of course, I know you can head down to the local mall and spend a few frustrating hours hunting from store to store to find just the right thing. Of course, there's always the issue of finding a convenient place to park and fighting the Battle of the Parking Structure. And this ...
My Big Fat Cuban Family Cookbook Giveaway
Happy November, everyone! I have to confess that I've been a slacker. I have a few more sponsor giveaways that I was going to offer in my 10th Blogiversary Month of October. Obviously that didn't happen. I did host 4 fabulous giveaways so far, (the winners have already been chosen) but I have a few more to go. Do I have an excuse for my ...
Cuban Food Posters For The Win
More reminiscing about what I've been doing for the past 10 years here on the blog and another giveaway today. It starts with a beautiful sofrito. The intricate dance between the warm olive oil giving life and flavor to the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. I could write poetry about the perfection that is a sofrito that signals the beginning ...
Who’s a Hungry Cuban?
Blogging has afforded me the incredible blessing of meeting people from all over the country. Mostly Cubans who connect with my stories of growing up in the cultural weirdness of being 100% Cuban and 100% American. I have an online friend who is an accomplished chef in his own right, who makes an amazing paella. We connected over - what else? - ...
Spanish Tortilla Recipe
DISCLOSURE: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with the American Egg Board and #WeAllGrow Latina Network Ahead of Our Time In honor of World Egg Day on October 14th, I feel like I’d like to add my Cuban 2 cents to the conversation and share a favorite recipe using perfect and versatile eggs. I have to begin with a full ...
The Cuban Table – A Giveaway
Last year I had the good fortune to participate in the Cuban Cultural Center of New York's (Centro Cultural Cubano de Nueva York) 12th Annual Congress. You can read about that right here. It was there that I met another one of the chefs involved in the event. Ana Sofia Peláez is the author of the very delicious food blog, hungry ...
The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook – A Giveaway
I can't, in good conscience, end Hispanic Heritage Month without talking about my love of Cuban food and sharing a wonderful new Cuban cookbook. Obviously I'm a lover of all-things-Cuban. Particularly the food that so defines our culture. Platanos, black beans, tostones, lechón asado, picadillo, and of course, pastelitos de guayaba. ...
“You have to see this movie.” Chef Movie Review and Cubanos
"You have to see this movie." I love conversations that begin this way. With a command. That means my friend, who knows me intimately, has something to share that I would love. And, in this case, MUST SEE. Further explanation comes: "It's got salsa music and Cuban food. You have to see this movie." There's ...
The Best Graduation Party of The Year
My son, Jonathan, graduated from high school a few weeks ago. As I've done with each one of my four kids, I asked what type of celebration he'd enjoy. The four of them have asked for completely different types of parties and I have tried my best to comply. in 2001, Amy wanted an All-Cuban theme, with all the family and her friends, ...
Cooking on a Budget – Pastelitos de Guayaba
If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I have perfected the simplest recipe for making pastelitos de guayaba (Cuban guava pastries) at home. Porto's, which is the closest Cuban bakery to us is still miles and miles and a half day's road trip away. So, when the craving for pastelitos hits, I just make ...
Cuban Picadillo Pies®
I have a recipe today that was kind of a happy accident. Ever since I went up to San Francisco a few months ago to cook my Picadillo, my family has been clamoring for it. Yes, there's been clamoring. For the past few years I've been making my picadillo with ground turkey. It's just become a thing. When I cooked for the Blurb Food ...
I talk about Cuban food. A lot. Listen in.
I had the privilege of discussing my love affair with Cuban food and how my family and I celebrate Cuban holiday traditions on Silvio Canto Jr.'s Blogtalk Radio show the other day. This is what I looked like. (Don't judge.) If you want to hear what I sound like, you should click on the following link. I swear, I sound much taller on the ...
