Ropa Vieja for a dinner party — went down extremely well

I made Ropa Vieja for eight guests who had varying familiarity with the cuisine. Every single person asked for the recipe. The earthy and hearty profile was the main talking point — no one had quite experienced Mojo marinade used that way before.

Cuban cuisine reflects Spanish, African, and Caribbean indigenous influences. I explained the a Cuban café abroad context as I served it which helped people appreciate it fully. Cuba Libre was what I offered alongside and it worked perfectly. Excellent dinner party dish — impressive without being inaccessible.