Vermont's Independent Voice
Browse News + Opinion
Browse Arts + Life
Browse Food + Drink
Browse Cannabis
Browse Music
Browse Movies
Browse Events
Browse Classifieds
Browse Personals
Revolutionary Flavors
Side Dishes: Homegrown Cuban cuisine takes off in Burlington
By Corin Hirsch @latesupperWhen it comes to mining for new market niches in northern Vermont, Yurisleidis Mora may have hit the motherlode.
It was only last week that the Cuban-born Burlingtonian launched La Cocina Cubana, turning over her Willard Street home kitchen to dishes of her native island that customers preorder and pick up. One week later, Mora says she’s been “a little busy” cooking up plates of ropa vieja, arroz con pollo and, the most popular so far, camarones al ajillo, or shrimp in a lime-infused garlic sauce.
Mora, who studied agronomy in Cuba and is currently a photography and early childhood education student at the Community College of Vermont, says simply, “Well, Vermont doesn’t have any Cuban restaurants, and so I looked to try something.”
Her inaugural menu is succinct but full bodied: Diners, who must call by 1 p.m. for an evening pickup, can choose from four or five menu entrées and four or five kinds of rice — including a yellow rice spiked with turmeric, garlic and onions. They also get sopa del dia or fried plaintains or both, and an avocado or traditional Cuban salad in a lime vinaigrette.
Jared Carter, Mora’s husband and the former director of Rural Vermont, calls himself her “assistant chef and dishwasher.” He first took note of the power of his wife’s cooking when friends swooned over it at dinner parties. “The whole focus is trying to imitate the paladares, the home restaurants that are scattered throughout the country,” he says.
La Cocina Cubana is open Wednesday through Saturdays, and the menu will rotate based on both seasonality and availability.
La Cocina Cubana, 54 south Willard Street, Burlington, 431-3625. cubankitchenvt.com
More by Corin Hirsch
About The Author
Corin Hirsch
Bio:
Corin Hirsch was a Seven Days food writer from 2011 through 2016. She is the author of Forgotten Drinks of Colonial New England, published by History Press in 2014.
Corin Hirsch was a Seven Days food writer from 2011 through 2016. She is the author of Forgotten Drinks of Colonial New England, published by History Press in 2014.
Speaking of Food, side Dishes
-
Eat this Week, April 12 to 18, 2017: Green Garden Spirits
Apr 11, 2017 -
An Evening of Food and Storytelling at Bird to Branch
Mar 8, 2017 -
NECI Sale ‘Imminent’ as New President Takes Over
Jan 6, 2017 -
New Owner for Black River Produce
Oct 17, 2016 -
Senate Advances GMO Bill That Would Preempt Vermont Law
Jul 6, 2016 - More »
Latest in Food News
Recent Comments
-
Ted Sargent: Wish you all the success in the world with your trust ! Another case of the good dying…
Re: Vermont Land Trust Announces Trust Honoring Farmer Eric Rozendaal
-
G Chesterton: Remember when James Kochalka published a cartoon depicting a local woman's severed head?
Re: Cartoonist James Kochalka Designs Beer Can for Magic Hat
-
Nopenopenope: So happy to hear this! Junior's was a huge loss to the Winooski community and I miss a…
Re: Former Junior's Employee to Open Jr's Original in Winooski
-
Rich ard: Maybe it's not intended to make up for everything.
Re: Vermont Foodbank Receives $80K Grant From Walmart
-
The Oracle: Aaaaand... the shark has been jumped.
Re: Cartoonist James Kochalka Designs Beer Can for Magic Hat
- More »
