November 27, 2007
My hat goes off
Today is my fourth day in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. The views are, to say the least, unbelievable. Everyone we have dealt with since we have arrived have gone out of their way to be nice and helpful. There is just one thing missing that would make this trip perfect: Café Cubano!
To my surprise, and dismay, most places up here do not even have espresso machines. And the few places we have been able to find that do have espresso have been disappointing. It makes you wonder which is worse; watered down espresso, or no espresso at all. Oh well, that is what I get for forgetting to pack our portable, plug-in cafetera.
Moments like these remind me of how lucky I am to live in Miami and have access to practically anything Cuban I need. It also reminds me of all of you out there that live throughout the US, and the world, far away from any Cubania.
To all of you out there that have held on to your Cuban heritage far from all things Cuban, my hat goes off to you!
Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at November 27, 2007 10:04 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.babalublog.com/cgi-bin/mt/hut.cgi/6622
Comments
Dude, how can you forget to pack your portable cafetera and cafre pilon?
all you need is a hot plate and you're true to go!
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 27, 2007 10:51 AM
I was born in Cuba and live in South Carolina, now. I'm glad you are enjoying the BRM... I have a place up there, too. Bringing a cafetera will go a long way toward making you feel at home but your Cuban-ness has more to do with yourself rather than where you happen to be standing. Besides... you still can log on to Babalublog. And that is stronger than any cafe brewed in NC, SC, or Miami!
Enjoy the view...I'm looking forward to a little getaway, myself next weekend!
JG
Posted by: JorgeG at November 27, 2007 11:14 AM
hey ya should have called....I have Cafe Cubano always on here in NC!
Posted by: rrrod at November 27, 2007 11:34 AM
Ingles Grocery stores in North Carolina sell Bustelo, Mojo, etc. And if you are anywhere near Charlotte they have several Cuban restaurants.
But you are right. It ain't Miami
Posted by: pototo at November 27, 2007 01:06 PM
Alberto-
We take our Bustelo and cafeterita everywhere.
It's kind of like a freak show here, really. =D
Have a great time!
Marta
Posted by: Marta at November 27, 2007 01:54 PM
the bakery in downtown murphy nc makes the best cuban sandwiches around
also in young harris ga
Posted by: gus at November 27, 2007 02:55 PM
You could always do like my dad did for 20+ years of work and still does even though he's retired; carry a vitamin bottle of it in your back pocket and take swigs all day. We live in the suburbs of NYC and believe it or not few places have good espresso.
Posted by: RedneckCubano at November 27, 2007 03:44 PM
When in Rome, and all that. If you're in the Blue Ridge you're supposed to be sipping on white lightning. It'll make you forget all about coffee, Cuban or otherwise.
Posted by: Retread at November 27, 2007 04:00 PM
I need the cafe from all the lightning I've been drinking since I got here. The most annoying part is that we bought a cafetera that you just have to plug in--you don't even need a hot plate.
This is the second trip we forget it. From now on, I'm storing it in the suitcase!
Posted by: albertodelacruz at November 27, 2007 04:24 PM
I'm enjoying a cup as we speak!!!!
Posted by: rrrod at November 27, 2007 04:29 PM
Ha ha, even *I* had some today- my special delivery at work- 10:00 every morning, a big mug of it. That's what, 4 normal cups? No wonder I drop the chalk.
Posted by: Claudia4Libertad at November 27, 2007 05:31 PM
worst case take some instant pilon and add to hot milk for instant cafe con leche.
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier at November 27, 2007 05:50 PM
Lived in NY, NJ, TX, GA, KS and years in the military, I still miss MIAMI!!!!!
Posted by: Doorgunner at November 27, 2007 06:22 PM
Bet you won't forget next time!
Can't complain where I live, b/c I have (unbelievably) lots of Cuban creature comforts, thanks to local Cuban locals .... ;-) No Carreta or Versailles, but oh well, close enough. We don't forget the heritage, for sure!
(But I don't miss how crude and expensive Mia. has become .... something's gotta give.)
Posted by: Gigi at November 27, 2007 09:49 PM
You should head east to the NC coastal plain where I'm from (Goldsboro to be exact). Once you've tried eastern NC pork BBQ with hushpuppies, you may very well pack up and move there. Yes, it's that good. I recommend either McCall's or Wilbur's BBQ in Goldsboro.
Posted by: Zhangliqun at November 27, 2007 11:41 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
