In a country shrouded in secrecy, a mouthwatering, but little-known food scene thrives. A Taste of Cuba offers unprecedented entry into the kitchens of Cuba’s top chefs, where the country’s most delectable dishes are created, and the chefs share their techniques, inspiration, and best recipes for the very first time. Renowned Cuba photographer Cynthia Carris Alonso and her Cuban husband, José Luis Alonso, will take you with them on their ride through Havana and around the country, as they stop in Cuba’s twenty top paladares ―private, family-owned establishments. Inside you’ll see how Cuban chefs are world-class inventive, adapting their dishes based on the changing ingredients available on the market, and get their recipes, recorded on paper for the very first time. The result allows you to make classic dishes such as ropa vieja, frijoles negros , and maduros ―stewed beef, black beans, and sweet plantains―as well as more elaborate foods, such as eggplant caviar, fish tacos, and ham croquettes. Here too are the recipes for dreamy alfajores con dulce de leche ; drinks such as Hemingway’s papa doble daiquiri of legend; and much more. Between visits with the chefs, you’ll walk the streets of Cuba, experiencing its colorful culture and seeing its lush landscapes up close. Stunning photos of Cuba and insightful text about its regions and culture are throughout. This new second edition of A Taste of Cuba offers a wealth of new photos and recipes, as well as text about recent changes affecting Cuba. “In A Taste of Cuba the connections between food and family history and cuisine and culture are made in vivid detail. I felt as if I were taking a coast-to-coast journey through the land of my roots, sampling dishes that reminded me of my own family dinners, the aromas and savory spices and sugary sweets. This book is more than its recipes, it is a story of how a people express themselves with their cooking.” — Soledad O’Brien, CEO of Starfish Media Group & Host of Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien “ A Taste of Cuba brings Cuba’s culinary culture to life in ways never seen before in print. Carris Alonso provides a unique blend of historical perspective while taking you on a journey through Cuba’s neighborhoods, popular restaurants, and delectable dishes.” — Tom Popper, President of insightCuba “Great food transcends political ideologies and connects people in wonderful ways. A Taste of Cuba is a great example of this. Through delicious recipes, pictures and insights, A Taste of Cuba connects all of us to the heart of Cuba through the spirit of Cuban people, Cuban culture, and its food.” — Jeremy Merrin, Founder & CEO, Havana Central Restaurant Group “For me it is a pleasure and an honor that a person full of so much compassion and love for Cuba has dedicated part of her book to my recipes and restaurant in Cuba.” — Carlos Cristóbal Márquez, Owner and Chef, San Cristobal Paladar, Havana “ A Taste of Cuba highlights a part of Cuba that many believed was asleep: Cuba’s cuisine, which is a unique mixture of aboriginal, African, European, and American styles. I am very grateful to be a part of A Taste of Cuba . Let this be the beginning of many closer relations between the people in Cuba with the people abroad.” — Niuris Higueras, Owner, El Atelier Paladar, Havana “Highly recommended! A magnificent option for everyone who would like to cook quality Cuban food and learn about the gastronomic revolution taking place on the island of Cuba.” — Enrique Nuñez del Valle, Owner, La Guarida Paladar, Havana Cynthia Carris Alonso is an acclaimed photographer, a writer, and the author of Passage to Cuba . Since 1992, she has regularly traveled to Cuba, documenting its news, musicians, and culture for music recording companies and publications such as Newsweek , Vanity Fair , BusinessWeek , and People en Español . Alonso has appeared as a Cuba consultant on national television, in print, and on radio. Her images have exhibited throughout the United States and in Canada and Brazil. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Cuban chefs are alchemists who transform limited ingredients into savory dishes full of flair and flavor. For this book, I had the great honor of collaborating with Cuba’s most distinguished entrepreneur restaurant owners, chefs, and their staff members. I was welcomed into the kitchens of their privately run restaurants, or popular paladares —small, family-run restaurants located in their homes. With this book, we give voice to Cuba’s most notable chefs working today. We share their recipes—many written down and translated for the first time—and their stories, inspirations, and techniques. We also extend an invitation to you to travel with us into their paladares and restaurants, as well as the neighborhoods where they are located. My hope is that you’ll be intrigued by the energy, color, and character of Cuba, and inspired to make its most flavorfu