Cuban Food and Latin Food Restaurants: Cuba Cuba, Denver, CO

Looking for a great Cuban cookbook?
"Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban" and "Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban"

Jorge: Cuba Cuba may just be the best thing that ever happened to the Denver dining scene.

Glenn: Owner Kristy Socarras Bigelow, a Cuban who grew up in Miami, and her husband Brian have created a traditional Cuban restaurant that benefits from the restaurant smarts of Kristy Bigelow's brother Enrique.

Raúl: Except for the exterior, which looks nothing like any Cuban restaurant we've ever seen...

Glenn: ...Cuba Cuba may have been airlifted directly from Miami and plopped down here in Denver at the base of the Rockies.

Raúl: It's really two houses, side by side. On one side a full bar -- on the other, the dining room.

Jorge: The menu is not large, but features all of the Cuban classics: lechón asado, vaca frita, ropa vieja, camarones habanero, palomilla steak, arroz con pollo, paella, and masitas.

Glenn: One twist is the Raspitas de pato, duck meat shredded and cooked vaca frita style. They serve it over white rice and smothered in sofrito.

Jorge: Start your meal out right with a basket of mariquitas (plantain chips) served with a tangy traditional mojo and a not-so-traditional mango habanero mojo with a kick.

Raúl: You know the restaurant is great when they do the picadillo right, and at Cuba Cuba they take this most simple of all Cuban dishes and make it into a surprisingly good entree.

Glenn: We rarely order paella at restaurants -- ours is too good and we are spoiled by an abundance of seafood -- but the paella here is generously endowed with shrimp and lobster pieces.

Jorge: The price is very reasonable!

Raúl: The do an excellent spicy tuna ceviche, a great way to counter the earthiness of the lechón asado which has a great garlic citrus flavor.

Glenn: The ceviche really clears the palate and the heat of the peppers in the sauce really gets the old taste buds singing.

Jorge: Best of all? Even in Denver, they DON'T put mayonnaise on the Cuban sandwiches!

Glenn: Thank God for that!