Memories of a Cuban Kitchen [Hardcover]

Mary Urrutia Randelman (Author), Joan Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992

A native-born Cuban, Mary Urrutia Randelman has collected more than 200 classic recipes, fragrant and aromatic with traditional spices and herbs, vibrant with the colours of the tropics, and true to the cuisine, sensible and easy to prepare. Overlaid with reminiscences and black-and-white photographs of Randelman's childhood in cuba, "Memories of a Cuban Kitchen" presents a luscious picture of the cuisine, a fusion of Spanish, Indian, African, Chinese, and Portuguese influences. Starting with explanations of unusual Cuban ingredients, Randelman moves on to the best-known appetizers and snacks like Green Plantain Chips and Black Bean Soup, and then the classic main courses like "Ropa Vieja", which translates to Old Clothes, but is a delicious steak hash in tomato sauce, or Roast Leg of Pork Creole and Grilled Fish Steaks with Vinaigrette, Moros y Christianos, also known as Black Beans and Rice, and Chick Peas with Chorizo are just a couple of the most popular Cuban combinations included, as well as desserts, ranging from flans, puddings, and custards to Crispy Coconut and Baked Ice Cream and the tropical dark rum-based drinks like Havana Beach and Flying Tiger are there too.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Most Cubans will tell you that we have two food groups: party food--made up of snacks--and real food, built around fish, stews and soups," write menu consultant Randleman and editor Schwartz. "We seem to consume more of the former." In 1957, when Randleman herself was 10 years old, her prosperous family emigrated to Miami from Cuba. Her memories of pre-Castro life and eating are filtered through a golden haze of childhood recollection: cousin Pepe entertains his family at meriendasic (afternoon tea), in which "steaming trays began appearing from the kitchen, borne by a parade of indulgent maids and cooks," and glamorous Aunt Titi drives the young Randelman to the Havana Yacht Club for incomparable freshly fried potato chips and croquetassic "filled with smoky creamed ham and splashed with lime juice." The Cuban national cuisine as it emerges here is a fusion of Spanish, African, Chinese and Portuguese elements, as one sees in a dish such as okra stew with plaintain dumplings ( guiso de quimbombo ), containing root vegetables, sherry, bacon and Cuban beef stock, always seasoned with cumin.92 Lime juice is used liberally, both as marinade and flavoring. Desserts are largely custards, flans and puddings.250 The book is a personal yet comprehensive introduction to a cuisine perpetuated more in South Florida than in its native island.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

"The best foreign cookbook honors go to Memories of a Cuban Kitchen. The book rings wonderfully true, both in its recipes and its evocations of pre-Castro Havana as recalled by author Mary Urrutia Randelman with heartfelt affection. This beautiful book is a memory piece as much as a cookbook."—The Washington Times "Memories of a Cuban Kitchen will be an added treasure in any cook's library and a must in the kitchen of any American of Cuban heritage or anyone who's interested in exploring Cuban cooking more fully at home." — The Miami Herald A Sampling of Remembered Dishes

• Bistec de Palomilla (Cuban Fried Steak)
• Moros y Cristianos (Black Beans and Rice)
• Ajiaco Criollo (Cuban Creole Stew)
• Pargo Relleno (Stuffed Red Snapper)
• Ensalada de Aguacate y Mango (Avocado and Mango Salad)
• Flan de Coco (Coconut Flan)

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 334 pages
• Publisher: MACMILLAN PUBLISHING COMPANY (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0026009110
• ISBN-13: 978-0026009119
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #790,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like Abuela's cooking!, October 3, 2004

By 

Elena Hernandez "Chef & cookbook collector" (Panama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memories of a Cuban Kitchen (Hardcover)

My father is Cuban and I grew up learning to love Yuca con Mojo and Guayaba. There is this thing about Cubans and food, and it is remarkable how people that left the country 45 years ago still talk and eat the cubano way. As a professional Chef, I have used this book to develop new dishes and flavors in my kitchen. Yes I have a Cuban grandmother and lots of aunts that gave me great recipes, but this book is a very complete collection of the most traditional recipes, and of all the cuban cookbooks I have looked at, I would say this is the best.

From the famous Ajiaco Criollo, to the delicious sandwiches (Pan con Lechón, Medianoche, Elena Ruz), to the delicious Pastel de Pollo (Chicken Pot Pie) that I absolutely love and have prepared many many times, the Arroz Congri (Cuban Red Beans and Rice), to all the Flans and Puddings and my father's favorite Guava Tart (Pastel de Guayaba). You will never get tired of this book. Every single recipe we have tried in our family, according to my father,closely resembles his own mother's home cooking. I absolutely love it and would definately recommend it.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite cookbooks, June 3, 2005

By 

A Reviewer (DeWitt, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Memories of a Cuban Kitchen: More Than 200 Classic Recipes (Paperback)

While not of Cuban descent myself, I fell in love with Cuban food during my travels in Miami, Tampa, and Latin America. As a student of traditional cuisines of the world (particularly of the Mediterranean and Caribbean), I own over 100 cookbooks and this one is easily in my top five. It is traditional, authentic, and contains many great recipes. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, Cuban cooking is not the same as Mexican. Mexican cooking is basically a Native American Indian cuisine, with some European Spanish influence. Cuban cooking is a blend of European Spanish and Afro-Caribbean traditions, and the Spanish influence is somewhat stronger than in Mexican cuisine. Cuban cooking does not make use of chile peppers or tortilla flat breads. It does use lots of garlic, olive oil, onions, and some Caribbean crops such as plantains. Both are great cuisines, just different. The recipes in this book are generally straightforward and not too difficult. We find that the ingredients are usually easy to find at our local grocery store. As to our favorites: "Mom's black bean soup" is the best we've had, anywhere (We don't puree ours, just add enough water to get the right consistency). The sandwiches are also excellent: Pan con lechon is perhaps the greatest sandwich ever devised by Man. Marinated, slow-roasted pork on crusty bread, which is first slathered with Mojo sauce: a sauteed mixture of olive oil, garlic, onions, and orange, lemon, and lime juice. The sandwich is then lightly toasted. The Sandwich Cubano is also very good, as are the many seafood recipes: garlic shrimp is a favorite. Also try the avocado salad as an accompaniment: we're addicted to it. Enjoy.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is really terrific!, March 24, 2000

By 

A. Barrett (West Palm, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memories of a Cuban Kitchen: More Than 200 Classic Recipes (Paperback)

I was born in Cuba and was used to Cuban cooking with minimal ingredients. Once we moved to this country, my mother was able to cook our food the way it was intended to be cooked. I have re-discovered these wonderful flavors all over again by following the author's recipes. Although I am too young to have experienced the "real Cuba", as my mother called it, I was enthralled by the author's experiences in our homeland. This book has been a blessing. My not so Cuban husband has loved every recipe that I have taken the time to make.