Vegetarian?

[wehideandseek]

Namaste Y'all,
what are some things to be on the look out for?
Any helpful phrases to get this privaleged way of eating across to those who do not have the option to be picky?
When it boils down to it i will not decline food...so please, no vegie-haters :)

[aguacate]

You could try telling the Cubans you encounter that you don't eat meat of any kind - but they probably won't believe you!

A better approach might be to tell them that you have a rare illness that stops you from eating animal protein. No doubt many Cubans will then explain how their mother / brother / aunt / cousin once suffered from this disease and that they were miraculously cured by eating the liver of a turkey, or some such story.

Maybe the best approach is just to explain that you're crazy - most Cubans will accept this explanation without question.

Even if you do manage to convince people of your vegetarianism I'd check your food very carefully - some things, like chicken perhaps, which we would place firmly in the animal kingdom, might well be regarded as vegetables by the chef.

Beware also of innocuous sounding things like congri (rice and beans) as this is very often flavoured with pieces of pork.

Maybe your best bet would be pizzas that are sold on the street for Cuban Pesos (as opposed to Convertible Pesos). That these are cheap pretty much precludes the inclusion of any animal product in their make up.

Be prepared to have to limit your diet whilst in Cuba, though you should be OK for breakfasts. Also, if I were you I'd be opportunistic about eating suitable food when it's available. Some places will no doubt be able to cater to your needs well, some might make a cursory effort, other will just show you the menu and tell you to choose the hamburger.

IMO if you stay (and eat) at a private house where you can explain your vegetarianism to whoever does the cooking you'll probably stand a better chance of getting a regular meal than if you are using hotels / restaurants.

[wehideandseek]

Gracias Aguacate!

[buddafly]

There is a great veggie market in Havana (Vedado) that has just about everything (even cilantro). If you do the packed lunch thing... with bread, veggies and fruit you should be fine. Not a lot to choose from in the restaurants though. Pork and chicken... pork and chicken... pork and chicken... The veggies are slim pickins! And EVERYTHING is fried...whoa! Before we discovered the market, I was even eating the fried onions just so I could up my veggie intake!

[mellisas]

one of the saving graces for veggo's in cuba is the tomatoe sauces you can find at the dollars shops imo..also they stock alot of pasta...many dollar shops sell a variety of tinned and dried beans...which make a great meal simmered in tomatoe sauce..just have to find a friendly casa owner to cook it up for you's..the tom sause is also great spread on bread making up mock pizzas...also a good selection of olives in dollar shops.

the bakery next to the inglaterra hotel does a good selection of vegetarian pastries...as well as some very yummy cakes..

[Rose]

Please, if anybody can update this list, I would appreciate it.

This is a list of veg restaurants in Havana:

Eco-Restaurante El Bambú
Jardín Botánico Nacional. Carretera Expocuba. La Habana.
Tel 54 91 70

Restaurante Carmelo
Calzada Esquina a D. Vedado. La Habana.

Restaurante Vegetariano Pekín
Calle 23 entre 12 y 14. Vedado. La Habana.

Restaurante Biki
Calle Infanta Esquina San Lazaro.

Restaurante Vegetariano Ecocheff
Complejo hotelero Comodoro, Miramar

[mellisas]

OOOPS

[mellisas]

El Mercurio

Address: Lonja del Comercio, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís. Ciudad de La Habana.

El Romero

Address La Terezzas

[Coconut]

i'm a veg too...but when i was in cuba i threw my diet into the wind...esp. cause i was at a resort that doesnt have huge cities near by...so if you go to a smaller resort you might have to too...:(...sorry

[beardouk]

We had a vegetarian visitor last week. I joked that the Cuban idea of vegetarian was something with only a little pork.

At Club Havana he requested a pasta that was supposed to be vegetarian - and yes, it came with bits of pig in it !

[Gohhowced]

Achtung!!

[Peter Perez]

You could try telling the Cubans you encounter that you don't eat meat of any kind - but they probably won't believe you!

A better approach might be to tell them that you have a rare illness that stops you from eating animal protein. No doubt many Cubans will then explain how their mother / brother / aunt / cousin once suffered from this disease and that they were miraculously cured by eating the liver of a turkey, or some such story.

Maybe the best approach is just to explain that you're crazy - most Cubans will accept this explanation without question.

Even if you do manage to convince people of your vegetarianism I'd check your food very carefully - some things, like chicken perhaps, which we would place firmly in the animal kingdom, might well be regarded as vegetables by the chef.

Beware also of innocuous sounding things like congri (rice and beans) as this is very often flavoured with pieces of pork.

Maybe your best bet would be pizzas that are sold on the street for Cuban Pesos (as opposed to Convertible Pesos). That these are cheap pretty much precludes the inclusion of any animal product in their make up.

Be prepared to have to limit your diet whilst in Cuba, though you should be OK for breakfasts. Also, if I were you I'd be opportunistic about eating suitable food when it's available. Some places will no doubt be able to cater to your needs well, some might make a cursory effort, other will just show you the menu and tell you to choose the hamburger.

IMO if you stay (and eat) at a private house where you can explain your vegetarianism to whoever does the cooking you'll probably stand a better chance of getting a regular meal than if you are using hotels / restaurants.


Why won't they believe it, cubans eat very little meat this days.

[aguacate]

Why won't they believe it, cubans eat very little meat this days.

The more reason that they would think it strange that somebody would pass up the opportunity to eat meat when it is available.

Keep up Peter!

[Rose]

Why won't they believe it, cubans eat very little meat this days.


Have you been there "these days" to see it, Peter Perez??

I've been, and EVERYBODY around (inlcuding the dogs), EAT MEAT every other day, whether pork or chicken, as well as fish, and eggs, and spaghetti (Cuban style, of course, with sausages or ham chucked in the sauce), and papas rellenas (¡de carne!), or a tasteful and filling caldosa, with it's meat in it as well... what the hell are you talking about????

[Peter Perez]

Have you been there "these days" to see it, Peter Perez??

I've been, and EVERYBODY around (inlcuding the dogs), EAT MEAT every other day, whether pork or chicken, as well as fish, and eggs, and spaghetti (Cuban style, of course, with sausages or ham chucked in the sauce), and papas rellenas (¡de carne!), or a tasteful and filling caldosa, with it's meat in it as well... what the hell are you talking about????

Yes, Every month I go to Cuba and live at my lady's house and intermingle with the real people.

Now now you are Joking right ?

[peyote]

rose,

it's called "bashing cuba and cubans everytime i can with my excellent writing skills."

;-)