I have lately been so caught up in telling all about my latest travel experiences (Skywalker Ranch, anyone?) that I have not stopped to write about the things that are happening in my real life and taking up space in my heart and mind. And I know I always tell you that some things are "not important right now," so I decided to share ...
Miami
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. ...
Tickets Winners for Cubamerican, the Movie
Thanks to all who entered this giveaway. I can't tell you how much I love hearing a little bit about all of you. Especially about when you came here to the U.S. and where you're from. I used Random.org to choose the winners of the movie tickets to see Cubamerican at the Tower Theater in Miami on Friday, June 14th. And the winners ...
Cuba Nostalgia – Tell them, “Marta sent me!”
I didn't get to go to Miami for Cuba Nostalgia this year. And I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. It's the 15th anniversary of Cuba Nostalgia and the brilliant Tony Mendoza did the poster for the event which I'm totally in love with. Get it? 15 years. The Quinceañera. Genius. I already put out the word to my people on the ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Elena’s Story
Marta here: Most Cubans are familiar with Santayana Jewelers. They are a mainstay of the Cuban exile community in Miami. I'm delighted that Elena Santayana has graciously agreed to share her family's stories. Her memories of growing up Santayana are both hilarious and poignant. (Translations to her Cubanisms are marked with a red * and are at the ...
La Virgen de La Caridad – A Personal History
September 8, 1961. My family had been in the U.S. for seven long months. There was still a longing for anything or anyone that reminded us of "home." We eagerly waited for news that the revolution had failed and that the new regime had fallen and that we would soon be heading back to all things familiar. The Catholic Archdiocese of ...
KIA “Fun and Forty” Challenge – Miami to Key West – Part 1
[Disclaimer: I'm going to be posting about my trip to Miami and Key West in installments because there's just too much to tell, and because the awesome can't be contained in just one post. Also, please excuse the blurry photos that may or may not have been taken from the passenger side of a fast-moving car.] Last week I had the pleasure of taking ...
3:05 Cafecito break in the 305 (area code)
I just got back from a fabulous trip to South Florida (more about this later). One of the biggest draws for me when I am visiting Miami (Area Code 305), besides visiting family and enjoying the mostly perfect beach weather is, of course, the Cuban food. Bistec de palomilla, moros y cristianos, maduros (you could die from such beauty): I had this ...
The Best of MBFCF in 2010
I started this tradition last year. I reviewed my posts for the entire year (which was kind of interesting in a wow-is-that-a-train-wreck? kinda way, but that's not important right now) and picked a mix of some of my favorites. These links are a pretty good representation of what it's like Living the Vida Loca, MBFCF-style. If you've ...
El Palacio and me. (It was love at first sight.)
I've been home for a week now and I'm still processing all the wonderful things I got to do and experience in Miami. I'll be writing about the trip little by little as I sort through my stuff and check my mental rolodex to remind myself of the stories I want to tell. This particular one, I videotaped. (I know! Shut up!) I'm ...
The POTUS and the Frita – or Why It Took Me 18 Hours to Get Home
As I type this, I'm flying at 38,000 feet. I should technically be waking up in my own bed right now (sleeping-in would be more accurate, but that's not important right now). Instead I am groggy from a difficult night and anxious for the next 2 hours to fly by. (No pun intended.) Yesterday I woke up in my penthouse room at the ...
Cuban Miami – A Winner
First of all, I want to thank all of you who took the time to tell me your answers and some of you who wrote your stories. As I read through each comment, I realized that this was a perfect snapshot of our Cuban community. With the naming of each city and date, I read pain and sadness and nostalgia. Thank you so much for sharing this part of your ...
Brace yourself, South Florida!
On May 20th, 1902, a small island in the Caribbean known as Cubadeclared her independence from Spain. La Republica de Cuba was officially born on the 20th of May. In fact, for years as I was growing up, I thought the celebrations were all about ME, but that's not important right now. (I know. It explains so much...) 20 de Mayo, is Cuba's ...
