July 2019 Favourites List

This month I’m going to tell you about Cienfuegos, a city on the Bahia de Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos Bay) on the south coast of Cuba. Founded by a wealthy family, who gave the city its name, in 1819, it is positively a youngster of a city compared to Trinidad, Havana or Santiago.

The huge central square, the Parque Jose Marti, sets the tone for the city. Open and graceful, it is almost a double square! There are two squares which combine to make the imposing rectangle of the Parque. Strolling around the square, you can’t fail to be impressed by its grandeur. There is a Casa de Cultura in the square, where locals watch live music in a hidden courtyard, drink a cold beer and meet with friends. Or Bar Palatino, almost exactly across the Parque, a traditional Cuban bar with a terrace outside to enjoy the sunshine. The square was made a national monument in 1978 and a UNESCO as a site of important Cultural Patrimony in 2005.

It's a short taxi ride down to the coast, and I found a lovely little restaurant to have a slow and lazy lunch looking over the sea. You can’t spend all of your time travelling sightseeing, walking and taking photos. It is exhausting! So lunch at Camila’s Restaurant was a welcome break. 

Cienfuegos’ 19^th Century architecture is characterised by the main roads being wide boulevards, with grand villas on both sides. The houses here are painted in pastel shades, making them look very elegant. One of them has been converted into an old school Paladare (private restaurant), Las Mamparas, loved by locals for special occasions. Paladare Ache, in the side streets is a more contemporary Paladare with a beautiful garden, chunky rustic wood tables and a more modern take on Cuban food.

 

It’s a city which feels a little more relaxed than Havana, and has fewer tourists than Trinidad and feels a bit more like “real Cuba” than Vinales. Don’t forget to listen to some Beny More should you visit. He is Cienfuegos’ most famed musician, who could tackle many different genres of Cuban music with ease. Such was his versatility, he was given the title “El Barbero de Ritmo” or the Barbarian of Rhythm. It seems like a backhanded compliment, but it truly is not. You will find his statue on the main boulevard of town. 

I hope you enjoy my photos and my impressions of my trip.

My overview of my Cuba trip can be found here: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/04/april-2019-favourites-list.html

Find out about Vinales in the countryside here: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/05/may-2019-favourites-list.html

I wrote about Trinidad de Cuba here: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-2019-favourites-list.html
 

Food writing: 

Pubs are a quintessentially British drinking experience. They're not the same as wine bar, cocktail bars or other drinking establishments. What makes a great British Boozer? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/30/in-search-of-the-perfect-pub-great-british-boozer
 

An interview with food and recipe writer Felicity Cloake, by cookbook author Kerstin Rodgers at Ms Marmite Lover blog:

https://msmarmitelover.com/2019/07/an-interview-with-felicity-cloake.html

"Walking on the beaches looking at the peaches"! Do you know your peaches from your nectarines? https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a27532525/peach-vs-nectarine-differences/

Kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir, certain cheeses - what they have in common is fermentation. Some fermented food can help encourage good gut health. Find out more. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/fermented_foods

Recipes: 

Farro, grilled peach and pecan salad - an ancient grain with Summer fruits to make a seasonal salad which is vegetarian and vegan.

https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegan/farro-grilled-peach-and-pecan-salad/

Fancy a cheeky weekend cocktail? How about this toffee vodka? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/toffee-vodka
   

Quick and Easy Spicy Garlic Chicken Pasta from Helen of Fuss Free Flavours: https://fussfreeflavours.com/quick-easy-spicy-black-pepper-and-garlic-chicken-spaghetti/
 

Diana Henry's South-East Asian tomato and mango salad recipe which turns any plain main course – fish, chicken, pork chops – into a flavoursome Eastern meal. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/south-east-asian-tomato-and-mango-salad/

Nigel Slater’s new potatoes with broad beans and butter sauce:

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jun/18/nigel-slater-new-potatoes-with-broad-beans-and-butter-sauce-recipe

 

Slow cooked Korean pork marinaded in miso, soy sauce, gochujang or Sriracha, sesame oil, and pepper, served in lettuce wraps:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a34182/korean-pork-lettuce-wraps/
 

Black rice, watercress and pomegranate, a super salad with tahini dressing which is vegetarian and vegan:

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/black-rice-super-salad/
 

Turkish greens on toast and Börek with feta, greens and dark molasses tahini. Turkish recipes from Anna Jones:

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jun/28/borek-pastries-tahini-fritters-greens-toast-turkish-recipes-anna-jones
 

Chicken, giant couscous and harissa broth. Use giant couscous, don't substitute. Buy the giant couscous pasta!

https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/healthy/chicken-giant-couscous-broth/
 

Vegan tofu 
summer rolls recipe with Hoi Sin sauce or sweet chilli sauce:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/vegan-tofu-summer-rolls-recipe/

TV:

Killing Eve (Season 2)

Glastonbury (at the BBC)
The Good Place (Season 1)

Music:

Stephen Duffy - I Love My Friends (2019 reissue)

Neil Young – After The Gold Rush

Buena Vista Social Club - Various Artists

Please note: as with every monthly Favourites List, all of these items have been selected by me simply because I love them. I do not receive any money, benefits in kind or other incentive for posting these links or recommendations.