Cuban {cuisine|food} is {a blend|a mix} of Spanish, African, and Caribbean (Tainos Indian) {cuisines|foods} and {includes|consists of} {recipes|dishes}, spices and cooking {derived from|originated from|stemmed from} all {three|3} cultures. This {results in|leads to} {an interesting|a fascinating|an intriguing} {blend|mix} which tends to be {simple|easy|basic}, with fresh {vegetables|veggies}, fruits, cassava, beans, {barbecued|grilled} meats and fish. In Cuba, rice and beans are a staple, {along with|together with|in addition to} chicken, pork and beef, as in more {traditional|conventional|standard} Spanish and Mexican foods, {but|however} {combinations|mixes} and cooking {methods|techniques|approaches} {vary|differ}.

{Legendary|Famous} author Ernest Hemingway {spent|invested} years in Cuba, {writing|composing} and {enjoying|delighting in|taking pleasure in} the {local|regional} {cuisine|food}, prior to {dictator|totalitarian} Fidel Castro's {overthrow|topple} of the {country|nation}'s {government|federal government} in 1959, {shutting down|closing down} {one of|among} America's {favorite|preferred} {vacation spots|destination|getaway}. {But|However} Cuban {cuisine|food} {thrives|flourishes|prospers|grows} in south Florida, and venturing into a Cuban {restaurant|dining establishment} {looking for|searching for|trying to find} fish tacos, chicken enchiladas or shrimp burritos is {an exercise|a workout} in futility. You {won't|will not} {find|discover} them, unless it's {greatly|significantly|considerably} Americanized. What you will {find|discover} is {authentic|genuine} Cuban food, laced with spices, {a foundation|a structure} of rice and black beans and some {wonderful|fantastic|terrific} {dishes|meals} {featuring|including} plantains and other tropical fruits.Regardless of what Fidel Castro {may|might} have flown in from the States for his {private|personal} {dinners|suppers}, here is {a sampling|a tasting} of what tops the {natives|locals}' hit parade:

National {dish|meal} of Cuba: Ropa Vieja (shredded flank steak in a tomato sauce base), black beans, yellow rice, fried yucca and plantains, {washed|cleaned} down with cold {local|regional} beer;

{Coming in|Being available in|Can be found in} at {second|2nd} {place|location} most {definitely|certainly|absolutely} is Arroz Con Pollo (rice with chicken), as {basic|fundamental|standard} as it gets;

Moors and Christians: black beans and rice;

Fried Plantains: {a frequent|a regular} side {dish|meal}; (ripe plantains have peels that are {almost|practically|nearly} black, so {don't|do not} let that {throw|toss} you);.

Tuna in spicy tomato sauce; tuna (bonito) {is plentiful|abounds} in Cuba;.

Yucca plant: (Cassava) a starchy {substitute for|replacement for|alternative to} potatoes;.

Sofrito: {a basic|a fundamental|a standard} tomato sauce {added to|contributed to} meat or rice {dishes|meals};.

Flan: (baked custard) a popular dessert, as in Mexico;.

Helado de Mango: tropical mango sherbet;.

Aceitunas Alinadas: {marinated|marinaded} olives;.

Ensalada Cubana Tipica: (Cuban salad) your {basic|fundamental|standard} raw lettuce and tomato;.

Their most popular and {basic|fundamental|standard} spices are {available|offered|readily available} {almost|practically|nearly} {everywhere|all over} in the U.S. and {include|consist of} bay laurel, oregano, coriander, cumin and pepper. {Many|Numerous|Lots of} sauces have a tomato base.

In Cuba, plantains and bananas {comprise|make up|consist of} 47% and 24%, respectively, of the {local|regional} production and grown {only|just} for domestic {consumption|usage|intake}. Other tropical fruits produced in Cuba are mango, papaya, pineapple, avocado, and guava. Plantains {have|have actually} {never|never ever} {caught|captured} on the U.S. as we {prefer|choose} our bananas, and plantains have a sweeter taste, {usually|typically|normally|generally} {used|utilized} in cooking {rather than|instead of} {just|simply} {eating|consuming} raw. They are {an acquired|an obtained|a gotten} taste to be sure, which most Americans {have|have actually} {never|never ever} {acquired|obtained|gotten}.

Cuban {cuisine|food} can be vegetarian friendly, due to its liberal {use|usage} of beans, rice, {vegetables|veggies} and fruits, {but|however} {don't|do not} {expect|anticipate} to be {ordering|purchasing|buying} tofu or any other protein {substitute|alternative|replacement}. {The majority of|Most of} Cuban {people|individuals} are {poor|bad}, so native food can be {quite|rather} {limited|restricted} without the addition of some {type of|kind of} meat, fish or fowl. {However|Nevertheless}, {don't|do not} let that stop you from {enjoying|delighting in|taking pleasure in} {some of|a few of} their {spicy|hot} sauces, salads and rice {dishes|meals}. Yucca is a popular starch as is corn, {but|however} not in the {typical|common|normal} {form|type|kind} of tortillas as in Mexican food. (And {guaranteed|ensured} you {won't|will not} be {finding|discovering} any cornbread with butter or hush {puppies|young puppies|pups}, {also|likewise} made with corn.).

Although {many|numerous|lots of} {countries|nations} {may|might} speak the {same|exact same|very same} Spanish language, that does not in any {way|method} {ensure|guarantee} they {eat|consume} {similar|comparable} foods. So {venture|endeavor} out and {expand|broaden} your {repertoire|collection} by {exploring|checking out} Cuban {cuisine|food} {should|ought to|must|needs to} the {opportunity|chance} {arise|occur|develop|emerge}, and {don't|do not} go comparing it to our Mexican favorites. Havana boasts no {fast-food restaurants|lunch counter|snack bar}, {but|however} if it did, you can be darn sure Taco Bell would not be {among|amongst} them.