Western Cuba Culinary Experience
April 4 to 10 /2019
Led by Chef Douglas Rodriguez
Join us on an adventurous journey through Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad with the James Beard Awarded Chef and share in the passion that he has for the people and food of Cuba, and breathe in the energy he has devoted to his craft as he hones his talents.
You will recap knowledge and learn from the very finest culinary instructor on the planet or become America’s newest Nuevo Latino cuisine ambassador. You will not just dine as a spectator, but also learn and take part in how chefs integrate these culinary landscapes into their food in compelling ways. Quite simply, D-Rod Culinary Adventures has put together the greatest culinary journeys through Cuba and the expedition of a lifetime.
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$2925.00 .00 Per passenger. ( Single room occupancy)
$2875.00 .00 Per passenger. ( Double room occupancy)
Program Price Includes
- Airport Transfers in Cuba
- Cuban Visa
- US Government Paperwork & People-to-People General License
- Accommodation for
- Accommodations for
- Breakfast every day at the hotels
- 4 lunches
- 5 dinners
- A great culinary experience provided by Chef Douglas
- Cooking demonstration by Chef Douglas Rodriguez
- Museum, Institutional and Organizational visits
- Motorcoach or Van transportation for the entire program (12 hrs per day)
- Cuban Expert & Specialist
- City Tour and Activities as per program
- Translation by professional Cuba-based guides
- Tour management in Cuba by US and Cuba-based personnel
Program Price Does Not Include
- Airfare to Cuba (priced separately)
- Airfare from your Home City to Miami
- Passports
- Transportation to Miami International Airport
- After hours activities
- Trip Interruption Insurance
- Tips for restaurant and hotel staff; guides and drivers
- Personal purchases
- Anything not listed in “What’s Included” above
Day 1 -Thursday April 4, 2019
06:00 PM Orientation and familiarization
07:30 PM Dinner TBD
DAY 2 - Friday April 5 , 2019
08:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
09:00 AM Walking tour of the Four Plazas
The morning begins with a walking tour of the Four Plazas; a magical journey through five centuries of history and architecture that culminate to comprise Cuba’s first of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites – “La Habana Vieja” or Old Havana. The tour takes you on a stroll through the four main plazas, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis and Plaza de la Catedral, giving you an insight to the truly magnificent and powerful place Cuba held in the Caribbean for centuries. You’ll see colonial fortresses and opulent palaces highlighting the majestic architecture spanning from Spanish Colonial to Neoclassical interspersed with a mix of Baroque.
12:00 PM Lunch TBD
02:00 PM Tour El Prado – Capitolio, Parque Central , Paseo and more...
El Prado is one of the most exquisitely designed and splendid major avenues in all of the Americas and home to the quintessential structures that define Havana, ranging from Colonial to Baroque to Neoclassical to Art Deco. Designed in 1772 by French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, El Prado runs for many blocks from the dramatic fountain, La Fuente de la India, to the iconic Malecon, marking the boundary between Habana Vieja and Centro Habana. El Paseo, a marble promenade lined with a natural canopy of trees, marble benches, and bronze lions was recently chosen by the House of Chanel for one of the most dramatic runway shows in the history of fashion.
07:30 PM Dinner TBD
Day 3- Saturday April 6, 2019
08:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
09:00 AM Day Trip to Vinales
Pinar del Rio is Cuba’s westernmost province and is known for its breathtakingly beautiful and unique natural landscape. The vast and diverse attractions that can be enjoyed in Pinar del Rio range from exploring caves that are archeological sites covered in ancient indigenous drawings, to natural phenomena seen nowhere else on Earth such as the “mogotes” of Vinales, lush and verdant landscapes of tobacco and sugarcane; a small rainforest where orchids are remarkably abundant; pristine coral reefs that offer the best diving in the world and, once a year when the wind is just right, the best surf in Cuba.
10:00 AM City Tour Vinales
11:00 AM Visit To Jardín La Caridad
The garden is recognized by the presence of tall trees. A few meters away you will arrive at a rustic door with two leaves where seasonal fruits hang, a sample of what is inside. It is common to observe visitors of any age inside.
12:30 PM Lunch at Finca Paraiso Agroecological
Nestled into the Valley of Silence, located in Vinales, Cuba, is a true slice of paradise where the concept of “farm to table” cannot be more purely executed. Wilfredo is a local farmer who, along with his daughters, owns and operates the part organic farm and family-run restaurant.
02:30 PM Visit a Tobacco plantation & interact with Farmers
The best black tobacco in the world is cultivated from the soil of this rich and fertile land. When visiting Pinar del Rio province you will pass acre after acre of lush, verdant tobacco plantations. The soil in Pinar del Rio is the best soil with just the right conditions to grow and harvest the leaves to elaborate the best cigar in the world - the Habano.
06:30 PM Transfer to Havana
07:30 PM Dinner TBD
Day 4- Sunday April 7, 2019
08:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
09:30 AM Cooking Class at Ajiaco Café
You will experience a cooking lesson by a chef who will teach you how to prepare an authentic Cuban dish that is also one of the main specialties of the house.
12:30 PM Lunch at Ajiaco Cafe
“Papa's” passion for fishing and drinking has left an indelible mark on Caribbean seaside the town of Cojimar, the picturesque fishing village where Hemingway docked his boat, El Pilar, and where some old timers might still remember Hemingway and his guide, Gregorio, whom the “old man” was based on. Café Ajiaco is a Cojimar favorite. The fare is as varied as the drinks, but given that you are so close to the coast it is almost mandatory that you go for some seafood.
02:30 PM Drive by El Morro for a photo opportunity
Built on the high rock entrance to the Bay and completed in the early 1600s, El Morro Castle guards the Port of Havana, complete with dungeons, cannons and the iconic lighthouse. Known as “El Morro”, the castle is actually The Castle of the Three Kings, named for the biblical Magi. The lighthouse stands on the end of a promontory strongly fortified with huge walls and battlements built by the Spanish Conquistadors to defend the city against pirates and bounty seekers. You will make a brief stop here for photo opportunities of the colonial fort and the magnificent panoramic views of Havana.
03:30 PM Return to hotel Free time
06:00 PM A Journey through Cuban Music with Professor Alberto Faya
Experience a rare, intimate encounter with what Cuba is best know for – the music. There is an old saying, “In Cuba, if you turn over a rock a musician jumps out”. You will take a musical journey through Cuba’s rich and exciting musical history guided by world-renowned and award-winning musician and musicologist Alberto Faya. Faya.
07:00 PM Classic Cars Tour
08:00 PM Dinner TBD
Day 5 -Monday April 8, 2019
07:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
08:00 AM Depart to Cienfuegos
10:30 AM City Tour Cienfuegos
Enjoy the neoclassical style and French influence found in the facades with arches, glass stained windows, and fences. Visit the historic center, a unique 19th Century monument declared National Monument for its architectural values. The tour includes the Jose Marti Park, the Purísima Concepción Church, visit to Tomás Terry Theater, to the Cultural Goods Cuban Fund, to the Mesón El Palatino and the Provincial Museum.
12:30 PM Lunch TBD
02:30 PM Continue City Tour
04:30 PM Check Into Hotel Jagua
07:00 PM Dinner TBD
Day 6 -Tuesday April 9, 2019
07:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
08:00 AM Transfer To Trinidad
10:00 AM City Tour Trinidad
Your guide can explain Trinidad's history and colonial architecture. You will visit the main square, the Catholic church, the romantic museum, the troubadour house and other important buildings in the historical center.
11:30 AM Drinks at La Canchanchara
The Canchánchara responds to a Creole drink, which originated in Eastern Cuba. It was prepared by the Mambi Liberation Army, to minimize the effects of cold or protect against various respiratory diseases in wartime.
12:30 PM Lunch at San Jose Paladar
02:30 PM Visit to Valle de Los Ingenios
The Valley of the Sugar Mills is a large triangular plateau covering about 250 km2 and comprises within the valleys of San Luis, Alabama-meyer and Santa Rosa, in addition to the coastal plain of south Manatee River Delta. It is located in the province of Sancti Spiritus, in central Cuba. It was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1988 in recognition of the merits of this city, which is an outstanding example of a significant historical period and a traditional human habitat
05:30 PM Return to the Hotel
07:00 PM Farewell dinner at Selected Paladar
Day 7-Wednesday April 10, 2019
07:00 AM Breakfast at the Hotel
08:30 AM Transfer to Santa Clara
11:00 AM Depart Cuba
MEET CHEF DOUGLAS RODRIGUEZ!
As you may know, I’m a son of Cuban Immigrants, my first visit to Cuba was 2013 I was invited to cook at an Art Festival Biennial. Ten American chefs where paired with Cuban chefs to prepare a dinner, I sincerely can say that this trip changed me. The chefs in Cuba have none of the tools that a chef like us take for granted, limited food resources, limited equipment, no internet access and may other challenges that a Cuban chef can experience on a day to day basis, yet this chef all have a great outlook, I call them true Iron Chefs.
After returning home from this trip I wanted to find a way to help my fellow Cuban chefs and began to organize culinary trips to Cuba. I have been back 13 times since my first trip, meeting culinary Players in Cuba and finally found a way to help my fellow Cuban chefs get some exposures. I have created a culinary exchange event, where we can cook together with a Cuban chefs.
INSURANCE INFORMATION AND MEDICAL EVACUATION
Cuba VIP Travel
Cuba VIP Travel was founded by Peter and Yaima Sanchez Cuban-Americans with long-standing relationships with the island’s cultural institutions and artists, and a deeply-rooted love and respect for their Cuban heritage.
We are Cuba specialists working together with a highly specialized group of carefully selected partners on the island.
Cuba VIP Travel is bound by a deep love for our country and it’s people and a deeper knowledge and respect for Cuba’s cultural heritage. We pride ourselves in bringing our collaborators and guests into the fold and sharing Cuba’s warm and loving embrace with them.
Miami, FL. Office
10631 N. Kendall Drive
Suite 1208
Miami, Fl. 33176
For more information: customerservice@cubatoursandtravel.com
or call us at 888 225-6439 Ext. 804 -801