Traveling like this is harder on the eating habits. If we were living somewhere long term, we’d have a kitchen and there would be a balance of eating out and eating in. As it is, we have eaten out each night since October 3rd and my body is struggling. It’s hard to control for quality and gluten when we eat out a couple of times a day.
The food in Cuba isn’t amazing. At least not what we have found so far. Flavor seems to be low and I think it might have to do with so many years lacking plenty of ingredients. It’s staggering to really think about the level of scarcity this country has lived in for the last 60+ years. However, this week was a lovely change of pace in that regard.
The best food we have found here in Cuba were at Ivan Chef Justo and Los Nardos. Both are “Paladares” or privately owned restuarants with substantial financial backing to pull off what they have. The food is fresher, varied and creative.
I need to also just add this; Jon and I eat together for just about every meal we have while traveling like this. I love that. I appreciate that. We cultivate this as a way to touch in, as a shared experience and as the ongoing path of partnership we are creating. It’s my favorite part of the day.
- October 12, 2015 – Havana, Cuba – We ate at Ivan Justos. We shared a Cesar Salad and I had roasted Pollo a La Cubana and Jon had a Crab Risotto. It was delicious and the space was lovely to be in.
- October 13, 2015 – Havana, Cuba – We ate at Los Nardos in Havana with my uncle, Miguel. My uncle and I had Carnitas De Puerco Fritos Con Morros Y Yuca and Jon had a vegetarian Paella. Also quite delicious.
- October 14, 2015 – Havana, Cuba – We didn’t have dinner. Having snacked all day long, and having huge rainfall outside, we just stayed in with no dinner.
- October 15, 2015 – Havana, Cuba – We ate at Los Cosineros, right next to the Fabrica De Arte. Jon had a grilled lobster that was epic and I had a papaya, goat cheese, avocado and walnut salad that was gorgeous. I’m definitely making this at home when I have a chance.
- October 16, 2015 – Stuck in the Havana airport – He and I both had a cheese sandwich which killed me. There was no food other than this, we were stuck for close to 24 hours. So miserable.
- October 17, 2015 – Santo Domingo, DR – We had sushi at Ki, which isn’t just any sushi, it’s as Japanese Dominican fusion that was like a bliss bomb after the fiasco of the airport food we ate for 2 days straight.
- October 18, 2015 – Santo Domingo, DR – We went back to Ki. I keep eating the FM roll which is seared beef, cream cheese, avocado, seaweed, rice, sesame seed and a thinly sliced layer of fried ripe plantains or “Maduros” as Cuban’s cal them. It’s the most amazing combo of flavors ever. I honestly don’t even know what Jon was eating. It was a roll of some sort, but I was so enthralled with mine, I didn’t even ask!
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