Cuba food

montane

Hi,

I was wondering what the standard of food is like in Cuba.

I have heard before that it's of very poor standard, due to lack of choice of imports due to the US embargo. Is this true, or is the food alright ?

I have a vague memory of someone telling me that they lived on rice for 3 weeks while there.

Thanks

killbillvol2

montane wrote: »

Hi,

I was wondering what the standard of food is like in Cuba.

I have heard before that it's of very poor standard, due to lack of choice of imports due to the US embargo. Is this true, or is the food alright ?

I have a vague memory of someone telling me that they lived on rice for 3 weeks while there.

Thanks

You're correct. Nothing grows in Cuba because of the embargo. And nobody can cook. :rolleyes:

mikedragon32

OP, if you honestly believe that the only place Cuba could get food is from USA, you may need to educate yourself. The embargo makes very little difference in terms of food.

Apart from an amazing selection of seafood caught in the seas around the island, meat and veg are also plentiful. Imported food comes from Canada, central America and Europe. It's no better or worse than any other holiday destination.

drunkmonkey

Should you just take cash with you, heard it can be tricky to find atm's, can you get convertible peaso's in Ireland?

Fresh lobster will do me fine : )

montane

mikedragon32 wrote: »

OP, if you honestly believe that the only place Cuba could get food is from USA, you may need to educate yourself. The embargo makes very little difference in terms of food.

Apart from an amazing selection of seafood caught in the seas around the island, meat and veg are also plentiful. Imported food comes from Canada, central America and Europe. It's no better or worse than any other holiday destination.

http://www.cubasolidarity.net/aawh.html

I just read about malnutrition of pregnant mothers and resulting neurological defects as a result. I did not intend to put the whole explanation down to the embargo, I'm sure there may be other factors.

I'm sure good food is available. Just 3 friends visited there in 08 and said they lived on calorific values from Mojitos, rather than eat alot of the food. This was backed up separately and unprompted by another acquaintance who said the food was awful, and now I am reading it on several message boards also.

kmick

Its mainly (like most of South America) Rice and Beans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_cuisine
http://www.foodmagazine.org.uk/articles/cubas_food_production_revolution/

mikedragon32

OP: As this is a travel forum, and assuming therefore that you're going as a tourist, you will have no problem getting good food. If you're going native, then rice and beans it is.

This isn't the place to discuss the rights and wrongs of the effect the embargo has on the Cubans. It's a forum for discussing holiday travel.

kevthecelt

Stay in casas particulares and you will get a great meal EVERY night. Rice, beans, plantaines, prawns and other seafood is just an example of 1 dinner I had. I found the food great and the only time we were disappointed was when we ate in restaurants

fishboy1974

I agree with last poster, stay in a casa particulares, food is varied, plentiful and usually gorgeous. Plus accomodation is cheap as chips.

montane

mikedragon32 wrote: »

OP: As this is a travel forum, and assuming therefore that you're going as a tourist, you will have no problem getting good food. If you're going native, then rice and beans it is.

This isn't the place to discuss the rights and wrongs of the effect the embargo has on the Cubans. It's a forum for discussing holiday travel.

I wasnt discussing the rights of wrongs of the embargo. I have read otherwise regarding the good food availability for tourists, that is all.

montane

fishboy1974 wrote: »

I agree with last poster, stay in a casa particulares, food is varied, plentiful and usually gorgeous. Plus accomodation is cheap as chips.

Yeah, Ive read a few places that's probably the best option, and something different too.

Thanks

ncmc

Where in Cuba are you staying? We stayed in a so called 5* hotel in Varadero, all inclusive. The hotel ratings are nowhere near what they would be here, it was very nice, but more like a 3 star and the food was hit and miss and quite samey.

We had good food when we went to Havanna, in particular we found the steak and fish to be good quality. I don't think it's a place you would go for a gastronomic holiday, but you won't be forced to survive on rice either!

Auror

We were there 5 years ago, spent a week in Habana and two weeks in Varadero.

Have to say we did find it difficult to eat out there especially in the centre of town, the chicken you see running around the restaurant tonight may be your dinner tomorrow night, people may want to disagree with me about this type of thing, but I did see it happen.

Other restaurants which were recommended by the hotel were like walking into someones dining room, tried some restaurants but had to leave most as could not find anything to eat, by the way we are not fussy eaters!

Rice and beans appears to be a staple diet, which I can highly recommend had this dish with most meals.

Down around the marina in old habana, you will find some very nice restaurants. Onto resort in Varadero all in was a different world where food is concerned, had no problems here as these hotels have the money being able to buy food, where as local restaurants are probably family owned and cannot put on such a varied menu.

With regards the peso, most hotels will change euro to convertibles for you, you will be offered 'che's' from the locals on the street, these are worthless to you, especially in tourist areas. We were told about this prior to going so knew not to buy any.

Enjoy, you'll have a great time real nice country and people.

Dinkie

I loved the food in cuba. The fish and lobster was amazing. The only tip I would give is don't get anything with a sauce. I never liked the sauce.

I loved the beans and rice combo also.

I found Havanna and Varadero equally good for food. The variety was better then I had been expecting.

Miss F.

Be very careful with food in Cuba. Was there in October and never had such a sick stomach in all my life. As above stayed in 5 star accommodation so as to avoid food issues ...that didn't work! In the 5 star in varadero there was open cross contamination of food by chefs who used the same cooking implements with raw and cooked meats. Meat was displayed for residents to choose (cook as you wait) but was quite obviously sitting out in the open without refrigeration for hours. Because of the relative isolation of Varadero and its resorts you have very little choice but to eat what is there

belleray

Was there in August and had no problems at all. In havana we ate out a fair bit and just looked around and used the guidebook to find places.

Despite rumours we got loads of fresh fruit. The food in the Casa's were amazing, loads more than we could possibly eat and way better then some of the restaurants.

I got a bit sick staying in Veradero (avoid if possible) but this was all buffet stuff, if it was there at dinner and not eaten chances are it would be there for lunch the next day

And then between that we even found good snack foods for long bus journeys. I wouldn't worry at all.