"Nunsensations!" (Westwego)
March 2, 2010
Woman found dead, TPSO awaiting cause
March 4, 2010
I have lived and worked outside of my native Louisiana during different chapters in my life. During such adventures, I always longed for the food of our great state. Our cuisine is so unique that it is considered ethnic by some in other states.
An ethnic group is defined as a group sharing common characteristics and heritage, of which, in my experience, a large part is their cuisine. Obviously, every human needs to eat to sustain life. This need leads to the development of a culture or ethnic group that has its own unique cuisine using the ingredients that are readily available within their geographic region.
I have personally experienced this during my travels. I had the pleasure of working overseas with people from India. We were cooking for Americans. The cooks were happy to cook the American food but, for themselves, only wanted to eat the various curry dishes with rice and a lentil soup called dal.
This is just one example I have seen repeated many times with people from other nations. They all cling to the food of their homeland.
The United States, being a land of immigrants, is a melting pot of ethnic cuisine. Houma as well has seen an influx of new restaurants popping up that showcase the cuisine of distant lands. One such place is the Havana Grill. I love trying new foods and had never eaten at a Cuban-style restaurant, so I gave it a try.
The inside décor was neat, appealing and impeccably clean. I was quickly greeted by a server who was very pleasant and seemed happy to see me. Her heavy accent reinforced that I was in the right place to get a true Cuban meal. She remained attentive and polite throughout, suggesting many dishes and explaining what I was not familiar with.
Looking over the menu, I noticed a familiar item: meat pies, or empanadas ($1.80). I love our local meat pies so wanted to see how theirs compared. The plate arrived with one homemade meat pie and a tin of pico de gallo.
The meat pie was light and tasty and filled with ground beef, onions and peppers. The fresh pico de gallo, consisting of mostly bell peppers and onions with some tomato, cilantro and lime juice, was also refreshing. I did try some of the XXXX hot sauce at the table, which is not for the faint at heart. It was HOT.
Following my server’s recommendation, I ordered the “ropa vieja con arroz blanco, frijoles negros y maduro frito,” which translates to a shredded beef stew with white rice, black beans and fried plantains ($11.50).
The meal came with some fresh bread that was press grilled to warm it up and toast the top and bottom layer.
The beef was really cooked down with tomato and spice with tender slices of sautéed onions mixed in. I found the flavors very appealing and satisfying.
This was my first time trying plantains and they were wonderful. They have a caramelized outside and a warm inside that finishes with a hint of lemon.
Plantains are a fruit that looks like a large banana but are starchier, which allows them to maintain their texture when cooked. A version of fried plantains comes with all the Cuban specialties at the Havana Grill.
The asking price might seem high for a lunch plate, but it was a huge portion that I boxed to eat for dinner, so I basically got a two-for-one deal.
I also ordered a guanabana shake ($3.50) since I was being adventurous. I had never heard of this fruit but my waitress suggested it, saying it is not found in the U.S. Well, I had to get it! It had an incredible flavor mix of pineapple, sour citrus and a creamy coconut finish. Very refreshing!
Finally, I ordered a Café Cubano ($1.25). This was a good, strong cup of coffee that comes already sweetened, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
On another quick visit, I wanted to try the Cuban sandwich ($8.50). This was a roasted pork sandwich with ham, baby Swiss, pickles and mustard on French bread that had been pressed top and bottom. The flavors were delicious. The pressing of the entire sandwich kind of “glued” everything together and blended all the complimentary flavors.
It is wonderful when people move here from other countries and bring their food culture along so that we might have the opportunity to experience these new cuisines. The Havana Grill is just such a place, offering an ethnic dining experience that stays true to their roots and is worth trying a few times to experience all they have to offer.
Havana Grill 235 Enterprise Drive, Houma (985) 876-0001 Restaurant Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
