New-York tribune., 1905-01-01

basis of MANY dishes-n fact it has place upon
almost every bill of fare-and famous restaurant
in Havana rests its reputation upon It's preparation
of chicken with rice" of which most CuoanS are are
fond popular dish with the masses, ana one
which no foreigner afford to desplse IS composed
of rice eggs, bananas, little finely chopped bacon
and perhaps few peas slmmered together OlIele'S
are ideal in Cuba and in various ent1cng FORMS
though the cook usually is not person OF Inauguration
and will continue to it with green pease, unless
otherwise persuaded. Omelet with tomatoes, onions
and green sweet peppers is dish for the gods.
The inevitable dessert is guava jelly and sort OF
cream cheese of native manufacture. 1t IS reasonably
certain that your cook able to prepare all manner OF
custards although to American tastes her list OF
sweet dishes is lamentably small. When taught to
make pie, she regards herself as American indeed
and is immensely proud of her work
Cuban bread almost invariably is the product OF the
baker and is excellent in quality. The shape OF the
loaf always is the Same-lOng narrow and flat Some
times the suspicious American Will ind at ms nrSt
meal bit of what seems to be brown paper adhering
to the top of the loaf Seldom will his Spanish vOcab-
ulary enable him to discover the meaning OF th but
eventually some older inhabtant will explain. In
Cuba each baker purchases daily certain number OF
green banana leaves strip of which is fastened to
the top of each loaf for the purpose of preventing the
bread from rising too high in the heat of the oven
Certainly the result is crisp crusty loaf, highly
pleasing alike to eye and taste.
The Cuban hotel is expensive, and not always
provided with the convenences deemed necessary
by Americans though the cooking frequently is good
q
island the mind of the American turns Ongngly
toward house of her own. Not few bachelors also
keep house several sometimes pooling their interests
in this direction. 1t is tribute masculine 1ntel
gence that such menages almost invariably well
kept though not perhaps, upon economical scale
as when woman is at the head. In the bachelor
house there usually is male cook and man-of-al-
work-who considers himself person of Importance,
since he not only does the dining-ro and chamber
work. but is general manager The cook does the
marketing presenting his book for daily verihcatiOn
Rents in Cuba vary greatly, do wages and sup
plies with locality. The American dOmicied in San
tago will tell you sadly that it is 1.-THE dearest place
on the island" while he of Havana will have financial
proof to the opposite Certain supplies expensive
anywhere for excellent reasons; but in many places
native fruits. the pineapples especially.
prisngly costly. This pineapple, by the way, is
revelation to the American in flavor and sweetness
are the tiny slightly tart bananas surprise. When
of these pineapples growing in the
vicinity of a town it is a surprise to be asked twenty
cents apiece for them in the markets Grapefruit
also is expensive, but perfect in quality, though
oranges may be purchased at the proper season.
in Santiago for from ten to twelve cents dozen
In the immediate vicinity of Havana large quanti-
ties of vegetables raised in tiny holdings by China
These garden products peddled from house
to house by the growers, at a moderate price, being
carried in two flat baskets by pole the shoulders
after the custom of the Chinese the world 1t
picturesque sight to procession of these coolies
rotting along the smooth expanse of Carlos Hist