Cuban

The Gastronaut: What Philly Needs Now

Posted by Jason Sheehan on September 4th, 2012

In the past couple of years, Philadelphia has become a good restaurant city. But what is it going to take to make us great?

It was one hell of a summer.

In terms of restaurant developments—openings, radical changes and arrivals both large and small—it was huge. The reopening of Le Bec Fin alone might’ve been enough to satisfy in a slower season. The debut of Shake Shack on Sansom hit the city like a cheeseburger-flavored Second Coming. Our penchant for hot-weather trend-humping brought jumped-up poutine from Alla Spina (putting a fresh twist on a fad that’s been dangerously close to being played out at least twice in recent years), haute scrapple at Rittenhouse Tavern, tiki pop-ups, high-end South Philly hot doggery, and an end to our city’s shameful ramen shortage.

Summer polished our image as a solid restaurant town by filling in embarrassing holes in our culinary landscape. And we did good. But because I am a man perpetually dissatisfied with what I have, I can’t help but look and see what’s still missing. Philly is on its way to being a great restaurant city once again, but now that we’ve got the cheeseburgers, the ramen and the fancy-pants French food covered, here’s what needs to happen next:

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Cuban Chef Collaboration at Alma De Cuba

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on August 9th, 2012

This Monday, August 13^th Douglas Rodriguez, the chef of Alma de Cuba, will be teaming up with Chef Enrique Nunez of Paladar La Guardia in Havana, Cuba for a one-night-only collaboration dinner. The Cuban native is visiting colleague Rodriguez to prepare a five course menu for lucky guests.

There will be a reception from 6 to 7 p.m. which for $25 includes snacks and cocktails. Then the two chefs will be cooking up their special menu with reservations available from 7:30-9:30. The five course menu is $80 per person with wine pairings for $115. The event will also be filmed, as a documentary is being prepared about Rodriguez and Nunez.

For the full menu, read on. Read the rest of this entry »

Havana Room Opens Tonight at the North Shore Beach Club

Posted by Foobooz on May 11th, 2012

The Havana Room in Northern Liberties opens tonight. The restaurant replaces last year’s Chenango as the former Arrow Swim Club is being reborn as North Shore Beach Club.

The new restaurant will bring Cuban fare to the indoor/outdoor space along Germantown Avenue behind the Piazza at Schmidts. Look for ceviches, empanadas and chicharones to start. For a main course try the braised oxtail, plantain crusted snapper or suckling pig. A full bar will offer a special mojito menu with ten varieties to choose from.

Check out the Havana Room’s Facebook page for a glimpse of what will be on Chef Angel Diaz Rivera’s menu.

Havana Room
1031 Germantown Avenue
Facebook

Cuba Libre to Host Second Cuban Pop-Up

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on April 25th, 2012

Chef Guillermo Pernot of Cuba Libre will be hosting Chef Alain Rivera Santana of Doctor Café in Havana for a second Pop-Up Paladar from Tuesday, June 19 through Thursday, June 21. Each night there will be two seatings at 6pm and 8:30pm at $45 a person. The first Pop-Up Paladar in January sold out very quickly, so make reservations soon to guarantee a spot at the sequel.

With this second Pop-Up Paladar, named after the Spanish word for a private and intimate restaurant, Chef Pernot hopes to bring new Cuban cuisine and culture to his guests. This will be Chef Santana’s first time ever cooking in the U.S.

Cuba Libre [Official Site]

Alma de Cuba Now Offering Suckling Pig Dinner

Posted by Foobooz on April 16th, 2012

Center City’s Alma de Cuba is now offering a traditional Cuban style Cochinillo Asado dinner of ceviche, whole suckling pig (serves two) and dessert. The special $85 per person dinner requires a three day in advance reservation.

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Cuba Libre To Begin Selling Empanadas Out the Back Door

Posted by Foobooz on March 20th, 2012

In conjunction with National Empanada Day on Sunday, April 8 (take a back seat Easter), Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot of Cuba Libre is opening Empanada Alley, a late-night spot located at the back of the Old City restaurant on Strawberry Street. Every Friday and Saturday throughout April, from midnight until 3 a.m., the restaurant will serve up $3 empanadas in the converted kitchen space, reminiscent of a bodega.

Empanadas for Charity »

Afro-Cuban Pop-Up Coming to Philly for One Night

Posted by Foobooz on March 13th, 2012

Chef Wheeler del Torro, who has made a name for himself with vegan ice cream and pop-up restaurants in Boston (and elsewhere), is bringing Barrio, his Afro-Cuban pop-up restaurant to Philadelphia for one night.

On Saturday, March 31st, del Toro will open in an undisclosed venue and serve food that combines the spices and flavors of Havana street food with global influence. Del Torro says, “‘Barrio is all about encouraging people to explore different parts of their culinary repertoire.”

Potential guests are asked to complete an application to request invitations. To more ticket information, contact barriopopup@gmail.com.

We have no location but we have a menu »

Real Cuban Chef Coming to Cuba Libre

Posted by Foobooz on December 7th, 2011

Chef Guillermo Pernot of Cuba Libre will be hosting Chef Lucio of El Gijonés Restaurant in Havana, Cuba in a pop-up palador. Palador is a Spanish term used in Cuba to refer to a small family-run or privately-owned restaurant. The pop-up runs from January 11th to 13th at Cuba Libre and the dinners will cost $39 per person.

Lucio will be the first visiting Cuban chef to cook in the U.S. since the embargo on Cuba began in the 1960s.

Cuba Libre [Official Site]

Tonight: All You Can Eat Small Plates

Posted by Foobooz on October 24th, 2011

Every Monday Cub Libre offers all-you-can-eat Piqueos (small plates) for just $29. 27 plates to choose one. Only available in the dining room and everyone has to take advantage of the deal.

All-You-Can-Eat Piqueos [Facebook]

Cuba Libre Inspires Ten Years Later

Posted by Foobooz on September 26th, 2011

Trey Popp revisits ten-year old Cuba Libre and finds that the kitchen has been reinvigorated as chef Guillermo Pernot has unleashed 25 new menu items.

The surprises began early with a plate of baby octopus unlike any I’ve ever encountered. Center City has no shortage of kitchens offering baby octopuses—Philly excels in the eight-armed-animal department in general—but the specimens passed off as babies everywhere else are great honking sea monsters next to the ones sprinkled like popcorn atop a smoky, spicy, sesame-tinged mound of mashed eggplant that hit the Asian-Caribbean fusion bull’s-eye. These char-edged baby octos could have swum through a child bride’s wedding ring. They could have been served on nickels without blocking the view of Thomas Jefferson’s ponytail. But they could not have been any more addictively delicious.

The Revisit: Cuba Libre [Philadelphia Magazine]

Cuba Libre
10 South 2nd Street
215-627-0666
2 Reviews

Photography by Shane Canyon Walsh

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