“I need a blurb from you about Versailles.” This request came from my friend (the amazing Cuban chef and cookbook author) Ana Quincoces. She was working on a TOP SECRET project and thought I might have something to say about my favorite Cuban restaurant in Miami. Me: “Tell me what you're doing, so I can put it in context.” That's when she ...
Authentic Cuban Cuisine – A Winner
Thank you all for sharing the magnificence of the cooks in your family. I particularly like the quote: “What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?” It seems particularly appropriate based on your answers. The food that was made and served with such love in our childhoods has taken a place of honor and importance in our ...
Authentic Cuban Cuisine – A Cookbook Giveaway
As you know, I am an unabashed Lover of All Things Cuban. Particularly Cuban food. And if there's something I might just love more than Cuban food, it's Cuban Cookbooks. I have quite a nice collection, too. I often refer to all of them when I'm making a dish my own. I use them almost like text books, laying them all out on the table ...
It’s a Small (Cuban) World After All
You would think I'd be used to it by now because it happens everywhere I go. But I'm not. (Used to it, that is.) Here's how the scene usually plays out: Me: “You're from Cuba? So am I.” Cuban Person I Just Met: “I'm from *insert town in Cuba* and I know your *mother, father, sibling, dog's cat*” Me: “Shut. Up.” So last ...
Chimichurri Recipe of Awesomeness® – Rising to the challenge
I'm pleased to tell you that I've been included to take part in a series of Cooking Challenges by Holland House® and Mizkan® along with several other Latina bloggers. The first challenge was to use one of many Holland House products to create A Latino 4th of July on the Grill. To be honest, Eric is the Grill-meister around here. I am just ...
Amy has totally lost it.
My daughter, Amy Kikita has been working hard these past few months to lose weight. She has to date lost 30 pounds and the scale is still moving to the left every day.I admire the courage it has taken her to face her own fears and presuppositions about what this will mean to her and her life. Today on the Tiki Tiki, she shares her essay titled ...
The Cocoon
Eric found the cocoon on May 27th.We had never seen anything like it before. It looked to me like a jade earring with perfect gold flecks. It looked so, so surreal. "What is that?" We quickly asked Señor Google better known around here as Cuco. =D A Monarch. Shut. UP! It took a few weeks for the thing to begin to turn transparent and ...
The hunt for Cuban food continues…Hello, Havana Kitchen!
As you know, we live a few area codes away from the nearest restaurants serving Cuban food. Of course, this has become the impetus for me to actually cook Cuban food regularly, but that's not important right now. Last week, Eric and I got to escape to Temecula's Wine Country for a few days. Temecula is only about an hour and a half drive ...
9 Things. Happy Father’s Day.
When it comes to holidays, particularly what I call "Hallmark Holidays," (those are the ones where you can usually get away with just giving a card, but that's not important right now) I have always encouraged my kids to take it a step higher and do something thoughtful and more heartfelt. Particularly for Father's Day. Dad has ...
Espresso time! And the winner is…
I was quite pleased as I read the comments on the How to Make Cuban Coffee With Killer Espuma post. Most of you are of the Old Stovetop School of Cuban Coffee Making Goodness. (Yay!) And can I just tell you right now how much I love when you tell me about even the minutia of your life? I feel like we're sharing a cafecito at my kitchen table. ...
