Uncovering Writing

Drop everything and head to Cuba de Ayer, where we had a fantastic meal this past Saturday. Along with another couple, we spent Saturday evening at this Cuban restaurant, whose name literally means Cuba of yesterday. Tucked away in a strip mall off Maryland Route 198 just west of US 29, this small eatery has been there for almost three years. A friend told me about it a few months ago and we sent another couple there based on his recommendation. They told us it was fantastic and maybe the best Cuban food they’d had since having it in Cuba itself! So, after these two recommendations, we had to make it there.

Finding it was easy, tucked away just on the right hand side of 198 when you’re traveling westbound past 29. Parking is tight up front, but there’s more room in the back, especially near this amazing cool, and open late, Pakistani and Indian food/spice market. The place is small but vibrant. We waited outside and in an inner vestibule before making it into the restaurant area itself. The smells made my stomach jump for joy and if I was hungrier, I might have lurched at a table to sample someone else’s meal, or to hurry them up!

Turns out, we weren’t the only ones excited to try this place out. Two of us talked with a couple that came from Point of Rocks, out near Frederick, Maryland. That’s more than an hour drive to make it here. And, they were meeting another couple that was driving in from northern Virginia! I guess this was a mid-point, but definitely a long way to go for a place neither couple had ever been to before. The odds sounded better and better that we’d have a great time.

We were seated to the right of the main entrance, in the corner (see photo of our table below). I knew what I wanted before arriving, having scoped out the menu before hand. One of my favorite dishes is ropa vieja, which translates as “old clothes”. It’s a typical Cuban dish of shredded beef in a sauce with garlic, onions and red and green peppers. Like when I go to an Italian place where I try the marinara to “vet” the restaurant, I try ropa vieja at Cuban places. I ordered a Cuban beer that was on the menu, but they’d run out and on top of that, it’s been discontinued. So, I drank Presidente from the Dominican Republic. Along with my ropa vieja, I had moros y cristianos (a spiced rice mixed in with black beans and sauce) and fried sweet plantains. Three of us had the exact same thing. Our fourth had Lechon Asado, a dish recommended by our server. It’s a traditional Cuban roasted pork marinated in “mojo criollo” (a creole-style gravy) and onions. The general table vibe was that both dishes were great but the ropa vieja won out.

There was no room for dessert or coffee, but maybe next time we’ll try to save room. And there will be a next time. And one after that! And again for lunch, to savor the Cuban sandwich (which reminds me a lot of a New Orleans muffuletta sandwich. I heartily recommend this place to anyone who wants spicy (flavorful not hot) food, great service and wonderful ambience (once you make it out of the parking lot).