What is Cuban food like?

Cuban cuisine is Caribbean —not Mexican.

Food is not spicy though it is flavorful. Cubans do not use chili pepper or tortillas. Expect a choice of fish/lobster, chicken, or pork/lamb for the main course, accompanied by rice, beans, plantains, yucca, or other root vegetables. Salads are small. Desserts of flan (custard) and/or ice cream are the standard. The hotel serves a breakfast buffet every morning with lots of choices. Most restaurants are run by the State.  Paladars, which are private restaurants run in people’s homes, have sprung up throughout the city. Paladars have many government-imposed restrictions. For example, beef, shrimp, and lobster are highly controlled by the government and paladar owners are not supposed to serve them. They do anyway, but one must always be prepared to arrive at a paladar known for its great lobster, and not find it available because the government inspector is due to arrive that day. Going to a paladar is a great way to see a Cuban home and people who are bridging the gap between a collective and private economy. ·