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My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Cuban recipes, family, heritage, and culture.

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Welcome To My Blog!

The view from the cheap seats

February 4, 2009 By Marta Darby 7 Comments

While he's on stage rehearsing, I'm still painting and touching-up sets and helping to transform a rented hall into a "world of pure imagination."  I am completely content to sit back here and do what I do to make all of them look good.  To pull off this (or any) production it takes an amazing group of people.  ...

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I might not have minded if George Clooney was involved*

February 3, 2009 By Marta Darby 6 Comments

I say it all the time when we have a lot going on: "We don't have time for an emergency room visit this week." It's rehearsal/tech week for Willy Wonka which is this coming weekend and besides putting some last minute touches on those backdrops (will share later), I am also dressing 20 Oompa-Loompas, 8 Candy Kids, and assorted ...

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Barbie and the Nail Salon

February 1, 2009 By Marta Darby 9 Comments

I must apologize in advance for the following post.  My brain is fried from all the recent creative output.  Proceed at your own discretion.... ************************************************************* So, I'm sitting at my local nail salon getting my nails done (obviously) which requires me to sit still for a prolonged period ...

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Rockin’ the house

January 29, 2009 By Marta Darby 2 Comments

So, Adam had a few of his buddies over the other night to play Rock Band. The big selling point (besides "My mom will feed everyone") was.... "My mom will sooo kick butt er...do well... on vocals!" And so they came and we played and took turns drumming and playing guitars and vocalizing. Out in the backyard, of course, with the ...

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Fat Tuesday

January 27, 2009 By Marta Darby 6 Comments

Another fabulous post by Kikita A few days ago, a box arrived at my home. And abuela was instantly excited. From the outside of the box, she and I both knew the glorious heaven that lay inside. And she reminded me about the game. About how there is a baby Jesus somewhere in the cake and whoever gets the piece with him in it has to buy the next ...

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I *heart* Willy

January 26, 2009 By Marta Darby 5 Comments

My son, Jonathan will be playing the title character in his school play, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Opening night is two weeks away which means it's crunch time for us and everyone here at Chez Darby has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the boy look good. Which is how I found myself in the humiliating and ...

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Celebrate TODAY.

January 25, 2009 By Marta Darby 2 Comments

Disneyland. The Mandatory Mickey Face Picture. March 2007: Disneyland. The Mandatory Mickey Face Picture. May 2008:Disneyland. The Mandatory Mickey Face Picture. January 2009: (I guess most people use a calendar to mark the passing of time. =D) This is exactly why I am totally loving Disneyland's tag line for this year:*HEAVY SIGH* ...

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Foodie patootie

January 24, 2009 By Marta Darby 12 Comments

I cook.And I like to eat.But I don't consider myself a "foodie."  (In fact, I'm not really sure what a foodie is,  but it sounds too much like "roadie" or "groupie" for it to have a positive connotation, but that's not important right now.) Okay, so I admit I sometimes (okay, well.... a lot of ...

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Guess who’s coming to dinner?

January 22, 2009 By Marta Darby 29 Comments

There I was, minding my own business, when I received an email with the subject line reading: British TV Programme. My spam filter did not strain it, and even though I didn't recognize the name of the sender, I was intrigued and opened it anyway. It was from the producer of a TV Series for a Celebrity Chef from the UK who is looking to visit 8 ...

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Words with the Older and Wiser

January 21, 2009 By Marta Darby 3 Comments

Kikita here. I didn’t watch the inauguration yesterday. I was in bed with a migraine.My abuela, on the other hand, watched the whole thing. So this morning she started to tell me all about it. All about the people cheering, and the beautiful speeches, and how the word “change” was in every other sentence . . . and how it reminded her so much ...

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I love all things Cuban. I love to share stories, my family, food & recipes. I'm Marta. 💋🎉 @martadarby
Marta Darby Designs:
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Deseándole mucha felicidad a nuestro querido @will Deseándole mucha felicidad a nuestro querido @willychirino por sus cumpleaños! 🎂LA friends: Don’t miss Willy at the Downey theatre on May 8th and 9th, 2026! Come celebrate with us! 🎉See you there! Ey-o Ey-o! 🕺🏼💃🏻#willychirino
In these days of great uncertainty, it’s our cheri In these days of great uncertainty, it’s our cherished rituals that bring us comfort and provide great joy. 🇨🇺☕️Also, I really need the jolt of caffeine💥 but that’s not important right now.😉@cafelallave#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️ #cafecubano #cafecito #cafelallave #itsacubanthing
🚨ATTENTION LOS ANGELES!!Get ready to meet all of 🚨ATTENTION LOS ANGELES!!Get ready to meet all of the local like-minded Cubans who are ready to celebrate the death of communism on our beloved island! 🇨🇺We’ll be meeting at the Federal Building in Westwood.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
From 10 am to 12 pm.Bring your family and friends, your cazuelas y pitos, and of course ALL your Cubanity!
Porque nuestro día YA LLEGÓ!!! 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺
Ahora si se está formando! Come be a part of the celebration of history being made! 🙏🏼🇨🇺🎉❤️
After 67 years, they’re finally listening to us and we deserve to be heard.
Also, we deserve to PARTY!! 🎉In memory of our beloved Ziva Sahl, Fernando Marquez, Delia & Miguel Abascal and all our beloved dear ones who waited rather impatiently for this day. 🙏🏼🥰Que viva Cuba Libre!! 🇨🇺❤️
I’ll see you there!!🇨🇺🥰#patriayvida
#mybigfatcubanfamily
#quesevayan
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends! ☘️ Today I’m O’C Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends! ☘️
Today I’m O’Cuban. But my mom used to say I was “sinvergüenza.”
It tracks. 🙄Sláinte! 🍻😉#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
My family left Cuba in early 1961.My brother was My family left Cuba in early 1961.My brother was on the first Pedro Pan flight in December of 1960. Happily, my family was only separated for a few very tense months. But we were part of the lucky few who managed to leave the country rather quickly.Once reunited, my father vowed we’d never be separated again and so when my older sisters were to be married in California, he packed up the family and we never looked back.We lived in Miami for the first 3 years of our exile, before my parents moved us across the country, and so we made our lives in Southern California.As Cubans in California – “en el exilio del exilio” – we managed to find other Cuban families and connected with the familiar community of people who spoke our language and recognized our customs and our food.I’ve told the story of my family’s exile many times using whatever words the Lord sees fit to give my feeble brain.Tonight, I’m a white haired 70 year old grandmother (call me Wella😉) living in Southern California with the family my husband and I have created.My parents passed away years ago. (And I unabashedly miss them daily💔).What’s happening tonight (on the island that saw me born) is that the people have taken to the streets armed with nothing but pots and pans and have been banging them for 12 hours as of this writing, calling for “Libertad!”Who could believe we would actually see this day?
Who can sleep when freedom is so close you can taste it?Praying for the brave people of Cuba. May liberation come quickly! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼Also, I’m shining up my own pots and pans. It’s almost time.
There are just no words for this moment.
This is OUR Berlin Wall moment and the cracks are already stating to show.#patriayvida
#soscuba🇨🇺
#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#cubalibre
Happy #305Day, Miami! ☕️🇨🇺With espresso love fro Happy #305Day, Miami! ☕️🇨🇺With espresso love from Southern California. ❤️#mybigfatcubafamily
#cafelallave
#305day
Public Service Announcement: 🗣️ “We’re all brave u Public Service Announcement:
🗣️ “We’re all brave until we realize the cockroach has wings.”
Stay strong, my friends. 💪🏼
Happy Monday! 😉#mybigfatcubanfamily
Ahora como nunca, como lo dice mi socio, el gran @ Ahora como nunca, como lo dice mi socio, el gran @willychirino …“Nuestro día ya viene llegando.”May God be with the Cuban people as the hour draws near.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
At this point, I feel like this is an important pu At this point, I feel like this is an important public service announcement.
Write it down. ✍🏼
🗣️Repeat it.
Believe it. 👍🏼
Don’t come at me. ✋🏼
Ya tu sabes. 😘#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
Happy International Coffee Day! ☕️Make mine @ca Happy International
Coffee Day! ☕️Make mine @cafelallave!Also, I’m celebrating 19 Years in the Blogosphere today! Woohoo!!🥳Please join me over on my blog for all the *“RELAJO!” 🎉💃🏻*(That’s Cuban for BIG FUN.)https://bit.ly/4gUtFqv
Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Mart Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Marta? 🌎 👀I’ve been so super obviously absent from all my socials, let alone my blog itself.
For a while there, I was overwhelmed by the once easy task of documenting my day-to-day life.Everywhere I looked, people moved on to high production video and I was hopelessly lost, so I put writing on the shelf and happily got caught up on all the seasons I’ve missed from the Great British Baking Show.But then, as I often say, “life is in session,” and my life was accumulating entire chapters before I could even type, “Oh, the Cubanity!”Which brings us to today. I’m starting to dip my toe back into writing online. Mostly, I miss the writing and telling about my extraordinarily ordinary life and the daily happenings at Casa de la Loma.So, tell me: Do you have any questions for me as I get back into the over-sharing of my days? 👀#mybigfatcubanfamily #belikemarta #callmewella #mbfcf
Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️#cafe Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️#cafecubano☕️
#cafelallave
Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️#mybigfatcubanfamily Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️#mybigfatcubanfamily
O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺Always representing. 😉#mybigfat O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺Always representing. 😉#mybigfatcubanfamily
#stpatricksday
Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️Happy Sunday, my friends. 🎉#o Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️Happy Sunday, my friends. 🎉#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
I’m super crazy in love with my Christmas tree.🥰 A I’m super crazy in love with my Christmas tree.🥰
And @gloriaestefan singing about it makes it that much more beautiful. Am I right? 🤩I’m over here waiting (rather impatiently) for Noche Buena to arrive. ⏱️
Who’s with me? 👀☺️🎄🙌🏼❤️#arbolitodenavidad
#feliznavidad
#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 These C I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 These Classic Cuban Crema de Vie printable labels designed by the lovely and talented @lucyruthdarby // I also share the recipe for our amazing Cuban egg nog. // 🇨🇺❤️ Merry Christmas, my friends.🎄 #itsacubanthing
bit.ly/2QJV2Ka
Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on the @cafelallave
💚🗝️☕️🎄💃🏻🎶Feliz Navidad!!🎶🪅#cafelallave
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
Felicidades, @anaqooks !!! I can’t wait to dig in! Felicidades, @anaqooks !!!
I can’t wait to dig in! So proud of you, my friend. 😘❤️🥰
Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites. You should totally Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites. You should totally make these for Thanksgiving. Also, practice taking bows and saying, “it was nothing.” 🇨🇺🎉🏆 Here’s the link -  bit.ly/GuavaBites #thefoodofmypeople #guavabites
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FEATURED POSTS

  • The Bench
    October 15, 2025
  • 19 Stories I’m Excited to Tell
    October 1, 2025
  • My Big Fat Cuban Cooking Playlist
    November 21, 2016
  • El Flan de La Reina Recipe
    July 27, 2016
  • Pastelitos de guayaba recipe with picturesPastelitos de Guayaba Recipe (Guava Pastry)
    July 27, 2016

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Meet Marta

Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

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