Staff Pick
When I travel, half of my enjoyment comes from experiencing regional foods. I’ve never been to Cuba, but I’ve had a fascination for years with the concept of the semi-secret, completely illicit, and wholly exotic private home restaurants. The opportunity to drop in at dinner time at the homes of complete strangers who happen to be excellent home cooks sounds like a dream come true. With Paladares, recipes mix with photography and personal stories. Some standout recipes: Chicken Salad on Roasted Squash, Lemony Snapper With Crispy Sweet Potatoes, and Plantain Fufu With Pork. Paladares is a beautiful cookbook for cooks who love multiethnic foodways and for armchair travelers. Recommended By Tracey T., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The first book to tell the mesmerizing story of the new Cuban cuisine. A narrative and visual feast from James Beard Award-winning writer Anya von Bremzen and photographer Megan Fawn Schlow--with more than 100 vibrant recipes. Cuba is experiencing a cultural and culinary renaissance--and its paladares, the private restaurants, are leading the way. Paladares is a fascinating culinary and visual journey through the new Cuba. Born in Soviet Russia in the era of shortages, award-winning writer Anya von Bremzen brings a unique perspective to the stories that Cuba's chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and food historians share with her. She eavesdrops on passionate arguments about black beans and tamales; pries Daiquir secrets from legendary El Floridita (Hemingway's watering hole); guides us to vibrant agros (markets) and visionary organic farms. We learn of Fidel's obsession with cows, milk, and ice cream. We hear wrenching memories of the Per odo Especial, the years of terrible privation after Soviet aid vanished. We meet colorful expats who fell for Cuba and ended up opening restaurants--and local hipsters who obsess over global culture gleaned solely from foreign movies and magazines. Fawn Schlow's evocative photographs frame it all with the ramshackle glamour of old Havana, Cuba's stunning countryside, dishes that are earthy and innovative, and Cuba's incredible people.
The more than 100 recipes in Paladares are as intriguing as the characters behind them. Traditional Cuban bean pots, saucy picadillo, crunchy fritters, soulful tamales, Roast Chicken Stuffed with Black Beans and Rice--and a Gulf Stream of cocktails--are all featured here. But the recipes also reflect the current aspiration of Cuban cooks to finally catch up with the world through dishes such as Pumpkin Soup with Blue Cheese, Ceviche with Mango and Black-Eyed Peas, or Coffee-Rubbed Pork. Cuba's culinary culture is being reborn, and Paladares joyously savors this revolution.