I often say, "I'm the luckiest," and I totally feel like that's true. I was in Miami in December of 2019, - before the plague hit - and had the great pleasure of sitting down and talking and eating and hanging (and eating some more) with Chef Mike Beltran at his fabulous restaurant, Ariete, along with Nick Jimenez, the creator of Pan con ...
Miami
What’s Important Right Now – January
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 ...
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 ...
