Cuba Paladars & Restaurants
Paladares
are the independent, state sanctioned, family run restaurants of Cuba.
Since the beginning of the Cuban government's quest to open up their
country to democratic economic reforms, paladares were one of the
first and only enterprises to fall under these reforms. Rules stipulate
that they must have no more than 12 seats (though they many times
do), strictly family run and must cook rustic Cuban food (i.e. no
lobster or chicken breast as they are reserved only for the tourist
hotels). Within these and other strict guidelines, such as being one
of the few taxed businesses in a communist country, they have flourished.
So much so, it is these paladares that tourists seek out over other
state and hotel run restaurants. The food is authentic, wholesome
and inexpensive.
Based
on my personal experience and first hand travel experiences from other
travelers to Cuba, it can be concluded that the number one problem for
tourists there is finding a decent place to eat. Before the emergence
of paladares, choices were limited to either expensive state run hotel
restaurants and cafeterias or snack stands along the streets. The little
bodegas, Cuban national eating places, were off limits for the most part
to tourists as they accepted only Cuban pesos. With the Cuban government
opening up its shores to international tourism in 1993 and allowing the
privatization of paladares in 1995, things began to change.
Today,
paladares abound. The main problem with them is that the legal ones are
taxed so high that many do not have the money to advertise. Many times
they will hire a tout, or guide, to help bring in customers.
Of course, the guides work on commission only, and therefore tend to favor
only those paladares from which they can profit and push up the prices
also. There are also illegal paladares, but they seem to close as fast
as they open. This of course, is why there is a dilemma for tourists.
Links:
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Cuban Cuisine >>
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