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ABOUT US

Story

When visiting my grandmother's house as a child I remember fondly the delicious foods she often prepared for the entire family. The wonderful flavors and smells of her amazing dishes helped me understand the traditions and culture of the land they left behind and the home I had never seen.

 

Having been among the first generation of Cubans born in the U.S. after the exodus of the late 1950s, I was fortunate to have the chance to taste the traditional foods as they were prepared in Cuba. This gave me a unique appreciation for the importance of preserving the history and passion each dish conveys.

Cuba has a rich cultural heritage from which have arisen culinary traditions that are as vibrant and varied as the different cultures that have contributed to the development of its delicious cuisine. Cuban food has a vast and varied culinary inheritance derived mainly from the Spanish who colonized the island, the Africans who were taken there as slaves and the Chinese, who came still later as laborers. They all brought their traditions and flavors to Cuba's tropical paradise and created a rich and extraordinary fusion of foods.

 

Cuban cuisine includes flavorful meat and rice dishes, soups, seafood and desserts of all kinds. The subtle flavors of the foods are enhanced by cooking and spicing methods designed to bring out the best in each dish.

 

The culinary traditions of Cuba are not only a delight to the tongue, but they also offer a fascinating glimpse into a culture that has brought together many varied elements to create a cohesive whole.

 

We appreciate your interest and look forward to seeing you at Havana Kitchen coffee & tea.

Specialties

Casual Cuban, offering Breakfast - Lunch - dinner with a complete coffee house using our own, in-house roasted blend for our legendary Cuban espresso & Cortadito coffees - we also have tea, hot chocolate and blended drinks. We're a fast casual establishment and offer our foods in a dish or bowl for dine-in or carry-out. Aside from our traditional dishes, we have empanadas, plantains, salads, baked goods and an assortment of delicious Cuban pressed sandwiches including our world famous "Cubano" sandwich. We have a comfortable environment for dining or just hanging-out to use our FREE WiFi.

 

History

Established in 2006.

The idea for this concept started to develop in 2001.

I was driven by a simple desire to help preserve a portion of my parents and families cultural heritage for future generations - a legacy if you will. I often reflect on the sacrifice my immigrant parents made in coming to this country - as many others have - to allow me the opportunity they had lost in their beloved Cuba.

It is essential for me to keep alive the "ingredients " of my culture and spirit which make us all unique, thus contributing to the diversity that makes this wonderful country thrive.

 

In 2006, I constructed and opened a small commercial kitchen at an industrial park in Murrieta, CA. we mostly catered to the local communities. Within a couple of months I converted the front reception area (6 tables) into a dining room. Word spread quickly of our great food and coffee throughout the neighboring

communities, and through word-of-mouth began to established a large following.

In 2012 A loyal customer offered us a commercial space in Old Town Temecula.

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