What is Cuban cuisine? A delectable intermingling of Spanish, Portuguese, Arabian, Chinese, and African culinary traditions&mdash;a true melting pot of all the influences that combine in Cuban culture.<br><br>Now, Raquel Rabade Roque gives us the definitive book of Cuban cuisine: encyclopedic in its range, but intimate and accessible in tone with more than five hundred recipes for classic, home-style dishes&mdash;from black bean soup to pork empanadas, from <i>ropa vieja</i> to black beans and <i>croquetas,</i> from <i>tostones </i>to <i>arroz con pollo, </i>from <i>churros </i>to <i>café con leche&mdash;</i>as well as the vividly told stories behind the recipes.<br><br>Based on the author&rsquo;s family recipes, this is real Cuban cooking presented with today&rsquo;s busy cooks in mind. Whether you are an experienced cook or a novice, a lover of Cuban cuisine or just discovering it, <i>The Cuban Kitchen</i> will become an essential part of your kitchen library.