• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 12 / 02 / 2010

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Habaguanex S.A., the state entity that runs tourism businesses in Old Havana, celebrated the city’s 491st anniversary with an “Encounter for the Rescue and Promotion of Culinary Culture in Cuba,” business weekly Opciones reported.

The company, which is headed by City Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler, picked up ideas expressed by Leal during last year’s international tourism fair in Havana.

In a speech at the event last week, Leal urged chefs and tourism workers to go beyond international cuisine and continental breakfast and be aware of Cuba’s culinary geography. He reminded people of regional specialties such as butifara el Congo sausages from Güines, stuffed potatoes from Guanabacoa, and banana shakes from Artemisa.

Habagüanex operates 90 cafeterias and 38 restaurants in the center of the capital.

The “Saborear lo cubano” festival included theory sessions in the Hotel Ambos Mundos on topics such as “religion and food,” and demonstrations in 19 restaurants featuring Cuban cocktail traditions, desserts and cakes, and traditional recipes using coffee and chocolate.

The opening dinner at the Santo Ángel restaurant on the Plaza Vieja featured dishes described by author José Lezama Lima; the closing dinner at the La Mina restaurant included religious recipes based on research from anthropologist Fernando Ortiz.

Source: www.cubastandard.com/2010/12/01/city-historian-wants-restaurants-to-trea...