The Food Seen
The Cuban Table with Ana Sofia Pelaez & Ellen Silverman
On today's episode of The Food Seen, we travel to the Caribbean island of Cuba, where amid embargoes and defections, much of the nation's food history has been a mystery outside of it's own country. Writer Ana Sofia Pelaez and photographer Ellen Silverman, made it their mission to bring to light the rich cultural cuisine found in the kitchens of Cuba, from Havana nights to Medianoches (sandwiches). Their book, The Cuban Table, is highlighted by pastelitos de queso y guayaba, empanaditas de chorizo, arroz y frijoles, ropa vieja ("old clothes"), and flan de leche. For these culinary treasures, we raise our Mojitos and Cuba Libres, to liberating more than just the eponymous Cubano. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center.
"In the restaurants [Cuba], they take seafood out of the freezer and if it doesn't sell they'll freeze it again. Their experience with food is subsistence - to get enough calories to make it through the day." [15:00]
--Ana Sofia Pelaez on The Food Seen