NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know why I even read these damn resort reviews...like watching an accident in slow motion. But good or bad, every review mentions that the food sucks. What gives? Anyone been? Eaten? Enjoyed? How could it be so bad? Or are North Americans just fast-food snobs?

I guess the only thing to do is to try it. Of course, the wonderful blockade on Cuba might have something to do with it being somewhat less than what the writers might expect from other Carribean nations.

I don't know why I even read these damn resort reviews...like watching an accident in slow motion. But good or bad, every review mentions that the food sucks. What gives? Anyone been? Eaten? Enjoyed? How could it be so bad? Or are North Americans just fast-food snobs?

You mean Canadians, not North Americans. US people rarely go there, so I doubt their opinions figure largely in the reviews.

Anyway, I am sure the reason is the same that I found the food in Tunisia to be crap. It's a poor country.

You mean Canadians, not North Americans. US people rarely go there, so I doubt their opinions figure largely in the reviews. You're right. Good point, sorry:)

Anyway, I am sure the reason is the same that I found the food in Tunisia to be crap. It's a poor country.
So's Bolivia. And I loved the food there. It's going to be interesting to see if people really are just snobs, or what. But I haven't read one single positive review about their food.

Given the chance to frolic among the waves and soak up some sun, I wouldn't quibble over anything as mundane as food.


Besides, I'm sure it beats Denny's hands-down.

I don't know why I even read these damn resort reviews...like watching an accident in slow motion. But good or bad, every review mentions that the food sucks. What gives? Anyone been? Eaten? Enjoyed? How could it be so bad? Or are North Americans just fast-food snobs?


I know a cuban lady that told my fiancee and I to try a cuban restaurant that had some vegetarian stuff that we would like. She said it is her favorite restaurant in all of Vegas. From what I knew about cuban food, I didn't expect much vegetarian food and I was right. What they did have for vegetarians was minimal and bland. Plus the waiters had no idea of what vegetarian food was and made fun of us for ordering it when we finally struggled through an explanation they could understand (though we are used to being made fun of for our diet, because that's just the way the ball bounces).

I've never tried Cuban food when I was a omnivore so I can't say anything about the meaty dishes. It smelled wonderful in there though.

... I know that in Dominican Republic, the best meat was the pork - try that.

Because it's commie food.

So's Bolivia. And I loved the food there. It's going to be interesting to see if people really are just snobs, or what. But I haven't read one single positive review about their food.

But were you eating at people's homes in bolivia, or out at restaurants?

It's been my experience in poor countries that the food in tourist resorts/restaurants is usually crap. I imagine it is something to do with poorly developed supply chains and markets for them. Locals are not so dependent upon these things for ingredients, and have more options, so they can get around it.

But were you eating at people's homes in bolivia, or out at restaurants? Both. But you're right...the home cooked stuff was better. It generally is, no matter where you are. Unless your host considers KD to be gourmet food:)

It's been my experience in poor countries that the food in tourist resorts/restaurants is usually crap. I imagine it is something to do with poorly developed supply chains and markets for them. Locals are not so dependent upon these things for ingredients, and have more options, so they can get around it.
Well, buffets...yeah...even in Canadian hotels tend to be blah. So maybe it's true that the food sucks. Ah well.

Also when I was in Hollywood (a couple years before the first encounter I described above), I was walking around with a few friends and happened upon a Cuban restaurant. We were starving and not knowing anything about Cuban food, went in to ask if they had any vegetarian food... they pretty much gave us a dirty look and told us to leave. lol!!!

Also when I was in Hollywood (a couple years before the first encounter I described above), I was walking around with a few friends and happened upon a Cuban restaurant. We were starving and not knowing anything about Cuban food, went in to ask if they had any vegetarian food... they pretty much gave us a dirty look and told us to leave. lol!!!
Dirty vegetarians. Probably smelled of patchouli, too.

Also when I was in Hollywood (a couple years before the first encounter I described above), I was walking around with a few friends and happened upon a Cuban restaurant. We were starving and not knowing anything about Cuban food, went in to ask if they had any vegetarian food... they pretty much gave us a dirty look and told us to leave. lol!!!
I travelled to Chile with my friend who was vegetarian. The thing is, that meat is really, really expensive in most countries (Argentina and Brazil being exceptions) and people who can afford to go to restaurants of course eat meat. So to go to a restaurant and order vegetarian food...is like being too poor to go to a restaurant, but going anyway:) That's kind of how I had it explained to me. But that's not nearly as bad as turning down meat when someone is serving you in their home. Whatever you tell them, they are going to feel somewhat offended.

I'd rather offend though, than eat goat ball soup again. With the prize meat going to yours truly after a serious bout of diarrhea. Ugh. I swear there was hair....

Dirty vegetarians. Probably smelled of patchouli, too.


:p no way, we shower and I wear CKbe lol

I travelled to Chile with my friend who was vegetarian. The thing is, that meat is really, really expensive in most countries (Argentina and Brazil being exceptions) and people who can afford to go to restaurants of course eat meat. So to go to a restaurant and order vegetarian food...is like being too poor to go to a restaurant, but going anyway:) That's kind of how I had it explained to me. But that's not nearly as bad as turning down meat when someone is serving you in their home. Whatever you tell them, they are going to feel somewhat offended.

I'd rather offend though, than eat goat ball soup again. With the prize meat going to yours truly after a serious bout of diarrhea. Ugh. I swear there was hair....

I can understand that. I think the waiter at the restaurant here in Vegas said something like "You don't eat meat? On purpose?". Now that makes a bit more sense.

One of my favorite resturants here in Sunny Phoenix is called "Havana Cafe" and serves some exceptional cuban and carribean food.

Even Zagat likes it.

Anyone had resort food IN Cuba that can tell me if it's really as awful as they say?

I had a cuban sandwich in Miami once. Jolly good.

I had a cuban sandwich in Miami once. Jolly good.
Hey, that reminds me that we used to get what they called Cuban sandwiches down at the candy store when I was a kid...it was just a square of chocolate, but it was awesome...I wonder if they still make them?

I don't know why I even read these damn resort reviews...like watching an accident in slow motion. But good or bad, every review mentions that the food sucks. What gives? Anyone been? Eaten? Enjoyed? How could it be so bad? Or are North Americans just fast-food snobs?

Nope, I used to fly into Raighly-Durham quite often. There was a small Cuban restarunt nearby the hotel we were put up at. Really good stuff! Fried Banana's, black beans, rice, and a interesting steak. *Drools*

Hey, that reminds me that we used to get what they called Cuban sandwiches down at the candy store when I was a kid...it was just a square of chocolate, but it was awesome...I wonder if they still make them?

This was a real cuban sandwich, made on real cuban bread, with real cuban meat, with a real cuban press, made by real cubans!

Viva la Revolucion de sandwich!

I have never tried it, so can't comment......... what is it like spicy ?

I have never tried it, so can't comment......... what is it like spicy ?
From what I understand, it's not spicy at all. But I'm used to Chilean food, which despite the fact that many people assume South American food is going to be even spicier than Mexican food, is rather bland by our standards. Lots of beans, lentils, rice and seafood. But as my palette has softened, I've grown to love the subtle seasonings, and the more natural flavour blends as opposed to the over use of spices and condiments I grew up with.

Cuban food is based on rice and black beans, with fried banana for everything. Meat can be pork (prefered) or beef. Seafood is also important. I particularly like it a lot, but I've never eaten in a Cuban resort, so I can't help you there after all.

Cuban food is based on rice and black beans, with fried banana for everything. Meat can be pork (prefered) or beef. Seafood is also important. I particularly like it a lot, but I've never eaten in a Cuban resort, so I can't help you there after all.
Fried banana or fried plantain?

Fried banana or fried plantain?
The long one. Is that plantain? Anyway, it's called "plátano macho" where I come from.

The long one. Is that plantain? Anyway, it's called "plátano macho" where I come from.
Chileans call bananas platanos, but platanos are plantains. They aren't as sweet, and are much bigger. I've never eaten plantain though...this is just second hand info. For some reason, it was never served when I was in central america...though plantain is pretty popular throughout the region.

From what I understand, it's not spicy at all. But I'm used to Chilean food, which despite the fact that many people assume South American food is going to be even spicier than Mexican food, is rather bland by our standards. Lots of beans, lentils, rice and seafood. But as my palette has softened, I've grown to love the subtle seasonings, and the more natural flavour blends as opposed to the over use of spices and condiments I grew up with. thanks it sounds okay

I've never been to cuba, and can't go (I'm a dirty american) but if it's possible to escape from the resort areas and go to places where cubans actually eat, I'd do that. You're guaranteed to find delicious, unique things that way.

I've never been to cuba, and can't go (I'm a dirty american) but if it's possible to escape from the resort areas and go to places where cubans actually eat, I'd do that. You're guaranteed to find delicious, unique things that way.
You know, more than anything else, the food issue might drive me away from the idea of bothering with a resort. I'm crazy about food.

I don't know why I even read these damn resort reviews...like watching an accident in slow motion. But good or bad, every review mentions that the food sucks. What gives? Anyone been? Eaten? Enjoyed? How could it be so bad? Or are North Americans just fast-food snobs?
Oh man, I love Cuban food, but it's so bad for you! I grew up in Miami, FLA, and my surrogate grandmother was Cuban. As was most of her neighborhood. They used to feed me the best stuff. Arroz con pollo was always my favorite. It tastes different than in Mexican restaraunts. (I don't like Mexican food at all, for some reason.) And those cracker things, and pulled pork, and cuban bread, and cafe cubano.. mmm...

Man.. Now I wanna go back and visit again so Cruz will feed me.:p :D

Chileans call bananas platanos, but platanos are plantains. They aren't as sweet, and are much bigger. I've never eaten plantain though...this is just second hand info. For some reason, it was never served when I was in central america...though plantain is pretty popular throughout the region.

My favorite way of eating platanos is tostones...


You peel a green plantain and cut slices off angled, so they are oval shaped.

Drop the slices into HOT!!!! oil and deep fry until they are golden.

Take the slices out, and with a tostonera (or inside the fold of a brown paper grocery bag) smash the slices flat and refry them.

Drain well, salt lightly, and eat hot!!!

I've had some excellent Cuban food in Florida.

I would have thought it was likeMexican except with more roachs in it.......

I'd like Cuban sandwiches a lot more if they weren't all slathered with mustard... because I hate mustard.

Slap some mayo on that puppy (in lieu of the mustard) and I'll be singing the praises of Cuban cuisine!

hehe

You know, more than anything else, the food issue might drive me away from the idea of bothering with a resort. I'm crazy about food.


In that case you should take special care to notice that in a resort, you are a captive consumer.

This means that a resort resturant does not need to actually merit your business like a normal resturant does.

The great majority of hotel resturants everywhere in the world are bad for this reason.