Gourmets usually associate rum and cigars with Cuba. But the Caribbean island's cuisine is also delicious: Iris and Eric Garofalo serve stewed meat in their restaurant, La Pequeña Habana.
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Cooking step-by-step, Ropa vieja , Cuba
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Iris Garofalo: "I have two homes: Cuba, where I was born, and Berlin."
There are already plenty of Cuban bars in Berlin, say Iris and Eric Garofalo. But a restaurant serving real, authentic Cuban food? The couple searched in vain for that. It was a situation that could really do with a remedy, thought the Cuban-born pair. So in 2014 they opened their restaurant, La Pequeña Habana. Together, Iris Garofalo, the charming hostess, and Eric Garofalo, the self-taught chef, brought a bit of Cuba to Berlin. The menus, which the couple made themselves out of old cigar boxes, include Cuban classics such as the dish "ropa vieja," which translates roughly to "old clothing."
La Pequeña Habana in Berlin's Schöneberg district
The district where La Pequeña Habana is popular as a residential area and a good place to go out. It was popular even in the middle of the last century. The restaurant is located on a quiet street, but "Little Havana" attracts many regular customers.
50 Kitchens, One City: Cuba
05:26
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Ropa vieja
Serves 4
Ingredients:
400 g beef
400 ml beef broth from stock
1 onion
4 garlic cloves
2 bell peppers, 1 red, 1 green
2 fresh strained tomatoes
4 bay leaves
Salt, pepper
2 pinches Indian cumin
2 pinches red paprika powder
Fresh parsley
Olive oil
Preparation:
Boil beef in a pot for 40 minutes until meat is tender. Occasionally skim off the foam that develops during cooking using a slotted spoon. Place meat on a board to cool. When meat is cold, use your fingers to pull apart meat, setting pieces aside.
Dice bell pepper and onions, and chop garlic. Heat olive oil in a pan, and add bell pepper, garlic, and onions at medium heat until softened. Then add broth. Stir in strained tomatoes, bay leaves, spices, and meat, and boil everything for around ten minutes. Carefully stir the meat with tongs, so that it does not fall apart. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately. Serve with side dishes such as white rice, black beans, and homemade plantain chips.
La Pequeña Habana prepares ropa vieja
Gourmets usually associate rum and cigars with Cuba. But the Caribbean island's cuisine is also delicious: Iris and Eric Garofalo serve stewed meat in their restaurant, La Pequeña Habana.
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
Little Havanna in Berlin
Many regulars find a little bit of their Cuba in La Pequeña Habana. That's why a lot of Cubans living in Berlin come here. But the restaurant is also a welcome surprise for new customers - especially because of the seasonal fish dishes and other specialties. There may be plenty of Cuban bars in Berlin, but a place like La Pequeña Habana is truly one-of-a-kind.
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
A little Cuban vacation
Iris Garofalo grew up in a small town in Cuba. She accepted her uncle's invitation to visit him in Berlin in 1999, and has been here ever since. Eric Garofalo was born in the same town as his wife. They lived only 50 meters apart, but never ran into each other. He studied agriculture and moved to Italy, where he met his wife, who was vacationing there. They moved in together in Berlin in 2008.
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
An authentic atmosphere.
"I am very passionate in my work. I've always liked cooking and gained a lot of experience working in different kitchens. After thinking long and hard about it, I decided to present my culture by cooking for a German clientele." - Eric Garofalo
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
Owning a restaurant
"I was always interested in gastronomy. It's not really possible in Cuba - for people to open up their own business. And even when I was studying something else, I was always interested in it. When I was little, my favorite place was the kitchen. I was always in there with my grandma. She liked to cook for a lot of people and I was right there with her." - Iris Garofalo
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
'Torn clothing' as a national dish
After cooking, the stewed beef is pulled apart, giving it the appearance of torn fabric. That's likely where the name came from. "Ropa Vieja" means "old clothes." But it's unclear where the recipe originated. Some say the original comes from the Canary Islands or from the Spanish mainland.
Image: DW/L. Ganssmann
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Restaurant La Pequeña Habana
Eisenacher Str. 48
10823 Berlin