Viva La Breakfast!
Still a little groggy from our Miami Nights experience we set out the next day to meet up with some Cuban American bloggers to experience the best Cuban food in all of Miami and learn a little something about Cuban food and their people.
Normally I would say Cuban people first and then Cuban Food but I was hungry from dancing all night so the food comes first. We met Tere (from tere-tere.blogspot.com ,and foodtastic.blogspot.com, ) and two friends at Versailles in Miami, considered by many as the unofficial “Cuban Embassy” in America.
Entering the restaurant I was struck by the decor. It was similar to many Greek Restaurants that I had been in and made me wonder if this was really “the” Cuban place to go. Went he waiter came over I knew we were in for something cool since he didn’t speak English. Luckily, Tere, ordered for us and in a blink of an eye we had a full table filled with Cuban Toast (A full loaf of bread buttered and toasted in a sandwich press….and the rumor is it is full of lard) and 6 other dishes I won’t pretend to know how to spell (but enjoyed) and I washed it all down with a refreshing glass of freshly squeezed (pressed?) Watermelon juice.
Now the food is out of the way I have to say the thing that will stay with me (long after the food) was the people and conversations (this is becoming a theme here). because they gave us a really honest firsthand account of being a Cuban-American. When the conversation shifted to the current Cuban political I was struck by their passion and intelligence and when everything was done we all gave reasons to why we think Fidel Castro has given up wearing army fatigues and now only wears Cuban Olympic track suits with his name embroidered on the jacket.
Like everything on this trip we have video and it will be up soon!
Great meeting you too! I think I speak for the others when I say we really enjoyed ourselves…
Now, just so it stands recorded, you ate: croquetas de pollo y de jamon (chicken and ham croquettes), papas rellenas (potato stuffed with ground beef), and pasteles de carne, guayaba, queso and guayaba y queso (that’s pastries stuffed with ground beef, guava, cream cheese and guava and cream cheese together).
Looking forward to seeing ya in Tallahassee!
Amen to what Tere said. It was great meeting you and the conversation was wonderful! Hope the remainder of your trip is good, and really looking forward to seeing the updates along the way. =)
Oh! And don’t forget the “guarapo” (sugar cane juice). Although I don’t blame you for not drinking it; that’s like diabetes in a glass!
It was great meeting you guys! I enjoyed the conversation — and, of course, the food. Have fun on your trip!