Eat in Havana, Where to eat in Havana Cuba

Doña Blanquita Restaurant, Havana Cuba

This is the best place I ate in Cuba. Apart from some really nice “casas particulares” that offer you great meals for around $5 CUC ( vegetarians ) or $7 CUC for normal meals, there’s this restaurant I really enjoyed in Centre Havana. We end up going there more than 10 times, where we ate lunch and dinner. We did try others but not like this one as we arrived there without any guide / jinetero.

It’s very easy to eat and find a decent Paladar or Restaurant in Havana, you’ll easily see them on the streets or you’ll have some “jineteros” trying to instruct you to one of them to get some commission out of you.

View of Prado Avenue from Doña Blanquita Restaurant

This is one family restaurant right in Prado Avenue and you can enjoy the nice view of its balcony. The people there are very nice and was funny to found out a small little Portuguese flag on the wall. It seems they have some Portuguese friends that go there every year.

Apart from tasty and home made style food, they have fresh fruit juices that are so tasty and delicious. My friends and I would ask for 2, 3 or 4 juices each during the meals.

Vegetarian Food Havana, Eat Vegetarian Cuba

This was vegan’s heaven, paradise for non-meat eaters. As we arrived quite late on our first evening in the city, and the next day we went to look for someone, we did manage to sit and enjoy a great meal in this restaurant we decided to order one of each vegetarian dish. We were 3 hungry guys that eat a lot. It was funny because the lady said that was too much food… hehe not for us though.

My friend Palmeirão looking good lunching in Doña Blanquita in Havana

All around Cuba you can manage to get some “moros y cristianos” which is just rice and beans, but better watch out and ask first if they mix meat with it, some times they do and others don’t. I’ll write a few more posts about eating vegetarian in Cuba.

So we ask all we could ask vegan: beans African style, beans and rice Creole recipe, different vegetable roots like yucca and malanga, different styles of banana recipes and lot’s of natural fruit juices. I got one menu from them so I’ll write down all their menu below.

Balcony view during the night. View of Prado Avenue

Menu Doña Blanquita

Starters
Cheese appetizer $2 CUC
Fish cocktail $2 CUC
Chicken salad $1.5 CUC

Soups
Chicken soup $2.5 CUC
Vegetable soup $2 CUC
Consommé $1.5 CUC
Cheese creamy soup $1.5 CUC
Aurora cream $1.5 CUC

Stewed Beans
Sleeping Beans $2.0 CUC
Beans African Style $2.0 CUC

Eggs
Natural Omelette $5 CUC
Vegetable Omelette $6 CUC
Mix Omelette $7 CUC
Cheese Omelette $6 CUC
Omelette $1.5 CUC
Fried Eggs $5 CUC

Sheep
Cuban seasoned sheep Cuban Style $8.50 CUC

Home Special
“Doña Blanquita” Chop $9 CUC

Pork
Fried pork steak $7 CUC
Breaded pork steak $8 CUC
Grilled pork steak $7 CUC
Tender steak with egg $8 CUC
Pork steak with garlic garnish $7 CUC
Steak Uruguay style 8.50 CUC
Cuban seasoned pork $8.50 CUC
Cuban style steak $8 CUC
Fried pork chunk $8 CUC
Grilled pork chops $7.50 CUC
Marinated pork chops $8 CUC
Pork chops stew $8 CUC

Chicken
Chicken San Carlos style $8.5 CUC
Fried chicken marinated in garlic $8 CUC
Chicken stew $8 CUC
Cuban style chicken $8 CUC
Creole chicken $7 CUC
Cuban seasoned chicken $8 CUC
Roasted chicken $7 CUC
Golden blue chicken $8.5 CUC
Barbecue chicken $8.5 CUC

Fish
Cuban seasoned fillet $10 CUC
Cuban style fillet $12 CUC
Grilled fish $10 CUC
Fillet with cheese $11 CUC

Vegetables
Fried cassava $1.5 CUC
Garlic cassava $1.5 CUC
Fried sweet potato $1 CUC
Sweet potato in syrup $1.5 CUC
Banana in caramel and dry wine sauce $1 CUC
Fried shredded green banana $1 CUC
Green banana fried Blanquita style $2.5 CUC
Malanga root with garlic sauce Creole style $1.5 CUC
Fried banana with salt $1.5 CUC
Fried malanga root $1.5 CUC
White rice $1 CUC
Pilaf rice $1.5 CUC
Black beans and rice Creole style $1 CUC
Vegetables rice $1.5 CUC
Mix salad $1 CUC

Wines
White wine $12 CUC
Red wine $12 CUC
Pink wine $12 CUC

Desserts
Flan pudim $1.5 CUC
Fruit cocktail $1.5 CUC
Ice cream $1.5 CUC
Fruit mix $1.5 CUC

Beverages
Beer $1 CUC
Soft drink $1 CUC
Water $1 CUC
Fizzy water $1 CUC
Malt $1 CUC
Fresh home made juices $1 CUC
Lemonade $1 CUC

Prices in Cuba, Cuban Dollar CUC Convertible Prices

Prices in Cuba, Cuban Dollar CUC Convertible Prices

In Cuba there are 2 currencies, both actually called Pesos Cubanos because they are both Cuban of course, but one, the lowest one is called Peso Cubano and the highest one is called Peso Convertible aka CUC. Things in CUC are more expensive but you can’t escape this currency as some things can only be bought in with this money.

On an average look at prices in Cuba, things are expensive for Europeans, Australians and Americans. But, things are really really really expensive if you’re Cuban.

You have to be careful as sometimes things are mark in Pesos Cubanos and you end up paying with Convertibles. Don’t be cheated in “Casa do Chocolate” ( Chocolate House ) in Baracoa! Prices there are in Pesos Cubanos where you can eat all you want with 3 more friends and not spend more than $0.50 CUC, but they will probably ask you for CUC money. Say no and pay in either Pesos Cubanos if you have, or in small CUC coins. No CUC bank notes accepted but coins are ok.

This is a small list of CUC things I bought during my trip around Cuba, all in CUC dollar:

Havana
Ballet Ticket $20 CUC
Centro de Arte Cubano $5 CUC
Cubalse Oro Negro Gasolina: Especial 1Litre $0.95 CUC
Tienda Panamericana: Shorts $17.10 CUC
Doña Blanquita Restaurant: Beans African Style $2.0 CUC
Doña Blanquita Restaurant: Fresh Fruit Juice $1 CUC
Chocolate bar $0.85 CUC
Water 0.5litre $0.45 CUC
ETECSA 1Hour Internet$ 6$CUC
Cash Withdrawal Commission for $100 CUC: $3.24USD
Museo de la Revolución $5 CUC
The church tower at La Havana Cathedral $1 CUC

Las Tunas
Cubalse Oro Negro Las Tunas: Car tyre $47.55 CUC

Remédios
Museo de la Música, Casa Alejandro García Caturla $1 CUC

Guantanamo
Postcard $0.70 CUC
Erotic Cuisine Recipes Book $4 CUC

Santiago de Cuba
El Morro Car Parking $1 CUC

Trinidad
ETECSA 1Hour Internet $6 CUC

Camaguey
CD Thelmary $7.10 CUC
Shirt $12.25 CUC
Little coin purse written Cuba $1.60 CUC
Postcard $0.50 CUC
ETECSA 1Hour Internet $6 CUC

Baracoa
Tienda Panamericana: slippers $6.35 CUC
ETECSA 1Hour Internet $6 CUC

Manati
Cubalse Oro Negro: Gasolina Regular 1Litre $0.80 CUC

Sancti Spiritus
Servi Cupet Cimex Colon: Gasolina Especial 1Litre $0.95 CUC
Servi Cupet Cimex Colon: Bottle of water 1Litre $0.70 CUC

Ciego de Avila
Servi Cupet Cimex Jardines del Rey: Gasolina Especial 1Litre $0.95 CUC

Toll Tickets Cuba Prices, Estación de Peaje Cuba
FICAV Toll ticket Matanzas-Varadero $2 CUC
Toll ticket Cayo Santa María $2 CUC
Toll ticket Cayo Coco $2 CUC
Cayo Jutía entrance $5 CUC per person

Zalyony Green Bazaar aloe vera juice, Almaty Kazakhstan

Zalyony Bazaar aloe vera juice

this is a great opportunity to get some aloe juice drink for a very cheap price. if you drink a litre of this juice i guess it will be too strong for you but buy a bottle and drink it for a week. after a few zips you are not hungry anymore and you can skip a meal with this, just to clean your body, not as a substitute of course.

Theme: Health Food / Aloe Vera Juice

Address: Zalyony Bazaar
Directions: Zalyony Bazaar or green bazar in pushkin street

Zalyony Green Bazaar aloe vera juice, Almaty Kazakhstan

Govindas Krishna Vegetarian Restaurant, Almaty Kazakhstan

Govindas Krishna Restaurant Almaty (a.k.a. Alma-Ata)

This was the best restaurant i found in Kazakhstan and in all central Asia. this very nice and relaxed Krishna restaurant with very beautiful girls for waiters, serves very tasty food. the dishes come in this fancy look with the enough quantity of food you need to feel alright with yourself not to feel full nor empty. this vegetarian Indian restaurant is run by very interesting people that will invite you for their mountain refuge to make yoga and eat well along with meditation.

I like their yogurt juices very much. pastries are also very tasty along with some lentils dishes.
you can have a full meal for about $3, $4 or $5 if you eat more than one dish. if you are hungry you’ll probably eat more than one dish.

Type: Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10
Phone: 710836
Address: Abylay Khan 39
Directions: this is on the way down the abylay khan ul., 3 blocks before the Almaty II train station. on the left side of the street going on the station direction.

Kazakh Nomad Afternoon Tea in the mountains, Kazakhstan

This consisted on some bread, butter, oil and some type of berry jam. this berry jam was so delicious they laughed very much cos i couldn’t stop eating it. some cookies and fresh tea made in wooden oven!

This is the best way to experience Kazakh nomad way of life. they life inside this yurt (tent) in the middle of the mountains. they have 3 horses and about 30 sheeps, a riffle and lots of rice and flour to bake bread for the Winter months. they eat lots of sheep meat, that should be one of the reasons they have so many. they can take the skin to make warm clothes for the winter, meat to eat and milk to drink.

5 o’clock tea inside YURT:

This Kazakh nomad people offered me tea, cookies and bread with jam for this afternoon snack. after i arrived and met them i end up going inside their yurt and they offered me this amazing tea made in the oven. in the summer they have this oven outside the tend but during the winter the oven goes inside the tend to make warm temperature inside as the temperature outside goes below -30 in winter.

Breakfast in the Mountains: Ili Alatau, Kazakhstan

I knew i was coming camping so i brought a few things to cook during the weekend. for breakfast i just bought a very easy think to do while in this type of situation. i got 2 litre packs of kefir/ayran and some muesli i already brought from portugal. hehe LIDL muesli in the middle of the Kazakh mountains border with china and Kyrgyzstan haha, how far LIDL goes!? ;o)

my russian (russian from kazakhstan) friends started their day with bloody mary. some vodka and tomoto juice to start the day. they said this is the best way to kick the body after many drinks from the night before. hangover->>> morning remedy is more VODKA! with tomato juice!

Curry Express: Curry Express-Vegetarian Indian food, NYC New York City

Restaurant Name: Curry Express

Indian restaurant. altough its not a 100% vegetarian restaurant, vegetarian dishes stand for more than 50% of the restaurant’s choice.

this is a local street usually full with taxi drivers. good food good ambiance with indian TV on a big screen hehe.

open from 10AM - 3 AM

Favorite Dish: try the mango Lassi, the Naan. theres at least 9 different curries: Navratan Curry; Matar Paneer; Alu Gobi; Alu Matar; Malaei Kofta; Brinjal Bartha; Sag Paneer; Fried Dal and Shahi Paneer. Each dish form $4.50 to $4.95.

Theme: Indian
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10
Phone: 212 251-0202/1099
Address: 130 East 29th street
Directions: between 3rd & Lexington Avenue

Chez le Chef: Frederic Chez le Chef, New York City Pastry European NYC

Restaurant Name: Chez le Chef

This is a fantastic place in the heart of manhattan. you feel like almost in europe. nice music and great cakes and fantastic cfood made by a famous chef, Frederik Le Chef.

Favorite Dish: Taken from the website:

“BIOGRAPHY

His manner is charming. His anecdotes priceless. And of course, his baking tips are consummate. It’s no wonder women love him. It’s no wonder celebrities flock to him. His talent lies not only in creating world famous culinary delights, but in his ability to make baking easy and fun. It is the personality he brings to his craft that has made him one of the most desired pastry chefs in the world. It is his gift for one-of-a-kind creations that has caused him on more than one occasion to be whisked away on the spur of the moment to answer the call from the most famous people in the world. And Frederic’s irresistible personality is guaranteed to make anyone smile.

Director John Huston had Frederic flown to the set of “Night of the Iguana” in Mexico City to whip up his specialties for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Frederic was also sent to create fantasy pastry delights for 5,000 VIPs and 74 Kings and royal guests including Prince Charles of England at the Independence celebration. Princess Grace, Coco Channel and scores of other celebrities are included on his always growing list of devoted admirers and fans.

His international awards include: Gold and Silver Medals, at the Saudi Food Exhibition Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Golden Whisk Award, Swiss Hotel Group Zurich and Winner of the title of Best Pastry Chef in West Germany.

His affiliations include Patissier, Hotel Ritz, Paris; International Vice President and Worldwide Food Consultant of Les Toque Blanches (a professional chefs association based in Paris); President and Founder (1981-8 of the Saudi Arabian Chapter of Les Toques Blanches; Member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs; President Saudi Arabian Chapter (1982-86) World Association of Cook Societies; Verband Der Koeche Deutschlands (The German Pastry Chefs and Cooks Association).”

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40
Phone: (212) 685-1888
Address: 129 lexington avenue, 10016 nyc
Directions: between 28th and 29th on lexington.
Website: www.chezlechef.com

Apple, Restaurant & Bom Bar: Apple, Restaurant & Bom Bar, New York City NYC

Apple, Restaurant & Bom Bar

Restaurant & Bom Bar
Vegetarian, Vietnamese

very nice food indeed. i ate for entrance a salad and 2nd entrance tofu spring rools with soy sauce. they i had stuffed tofu with mushrooms. very tasty indeed.

i went with a group of friends so we end up staying in the private room of the restaurant.

Favorite Dish: stuffed tofu with mushrooms were delicious.

Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40
Phone: 212-473-8888
Address: 17 Waverly Pl, New York 10003
Directions: Btwn Greene & Mercer St
Other Contact: fax 212-982-7751

Bamyian Afghan Restaurant: Bamyian Afghan Restaurant: New York City NYC

Restaurant Name: Bamyian Afghan Restaurant

Bamyian Afghan Restaurant is one of the places i prefer eating in nyc. this is an amazing place where you can forget for a while you’re in nyc. choose the area of the restaurant where you have to take you shoes out and eat in this central asia look alike tables close to the floor just relazing in it pillows. just great. the food is just an amazing blend of central asia and afghan food.

Favorite Dish: i already tasted many of their vegetarian dishes. i usually ask for one entry, one salad and a first meal dish, dessert and dont forget to ask for the strawbery airan or local yogurt drink.

Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30
Phone: 212-481-3232
Address: 358 3rd Ave, New York 10010
Directions: Corner of 26th St
Other Contact: fax 212-481-5507