La Foresta (Restaurant) Siboney, Havana

                  People I know have been telling me to come to this place since about the time it first opened about a year and a half ago. It's located in Playa, Miramar, in what once was an old mansion with a considerable amount of space and foliage in the rear of the building. As with all Paladares in Cuba, the ground floor and the back area have been converted into the restaurant. The front still looks like the house it used to be with no flashy gimmicks giving away the fact that it's one of the latest on a long list of exceptional restaurants that have opened up lately in Havana....only one small sign next to the entrance. When you enter the house you're actually in the main air-conditioned dining room with a small sit down bar on one side and kitchen on the other. Exiting the rear of the building you have a well sized covered patio and surrounded by trees and other tropical plants you have a couple of lounging spaces as well as one more small covered dining area in what used to be the backyard.
                   The selection of menu items is considerably voluminous covering a good range of products....which makes me want to come back, especially after the wonderful experience I had. The food was great, the service exceptional and the atmosphere was icing on the cake. In my opinion the prices are reasonable and the food was well prepared....I've already picked out what I want to have next time. My partner said that her pumpkin soup was the best she'd ever had and her Swordfish was cooked to perfection, just enough to be cooked but not so much that it would have been dry. My starter the Tacos were stuffed with fresh ingredients but could have used some kind of (or more of) a sauce within to have made the chicken a little less dry. My Ribs were not the fall off the bone kind but very tasty nonetheless. The wine....something I've never done in Cuba is send one back because of it being corked, which is what I had to do this time. It was accepted without a hint of attitude and of course I got another bottle. I loved the presentation of the dessert, Guava halves in syrup stuffed with cream cheese. They have a nice cocktail list and make a pretty good Mojito. The only complaint I have is that being in a forest you could get mosquitoes coming around even in the mid-afternoon as I did.
                   I will definitely return to this restaurant (bringing my Off spray) and recommend it to anyone who's reading this post. For about 20cuc per person you can have a very nice meal, the only problem is getting there. It's a bit out of the way and would require a taxi to reach it....but well worth the trouble.

PS.....smoking is allowed outdoors.


La Foresta
Calle 17 e/ 174 y 176
Rpto. Siboney, Playa
Miramar, Havana
tel. (7) 271 2777

main dining room 

covered patio

Pumpkin Soup $3.00

Tacos $4.80

Swordfish $12.00

Pork Ribs $6.50

Stuffed Guava Dessert $2.50

covered patio area

main dining room 

lounge and additional dining out back

back of the building and covered patio

sit down bar in main dining room

  

Valle de los Ingenios (Trinidad)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Valle de los Ingenios, also named Valley de los Ingenios or Valley of the Sugar Mills, is a series of three interconnected valleys about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) outside of Trinidad, Cuba. The three valleys, San Luis, Santa Rosa, and Meyer, were a center for sugar production from the late 18th century until the late 19th century. At the peak of the industry in Cuba there were over fifty sugar cane mills in operation in the three valleys, with over 30,000 slaves working in the mills and on the sugar cane plantations that surrounded them. The entire area covers 270 km2 (100 sq mi) and includes the sites of over 70 former sugar mills.


The pictures below were taken while driving through the valley, from an observation deck and from the tower of the Hacienda Iznaga, a restored sugar mill property.
http://cubancigarsculturelifestyle.blogspot.ca/2016/05/hacienda-iznaga-valle-de-los-ingenios.html

Trinidad Topes Edicion Limitada 2016 (my thoughts)

                 They must have just released this cigar while I was in Cuba this past November. They come in Trinidad's usual box of 12 and weigh in at 56 x 125 (4.9") making it a Robusto....and a rather thick one.
                  Remembering it's two predecessors, the Robusto T & the Ingenio, I was both anxious and apprehensive prior to trying this Cigar. Although I like Trinidads I had mixed feelings about both of their previous EL releases. I bought a couple of singles from the Hotel Habana Libre LCDH to try so I could decide if wanted a box. They're selling for about 160CUC per box of 12 in Cuba. I therefore have no box date but it's safe to say it's current.
                  The flawless wrapper was the typical dark (a Trinidad tradition) and it was hard to the touch. Off the start the cigar tasted of chocolate and leather, it was medium in strength. It tasted maduro-ish and mild for a Trinidad, it was mild to medium in strength now. Past the half the flavours don't change much but by the last quarter it picks up a little power with earth and pepper and tasting more like it should. The burn is slightly off past the half but with no major issues.
                  This cigar has a ways to go before it settles down and where it does might disappoint Trini lovers. It doesn't seem like the typical profile at this point in time but personally I rather enjoyed it. A box of these has been added to my list.