Why is cuban food so bad

One of the most fascinating days out was a trip to a local food market in Camaguey. With a limited array of produce on sale - lots of chilis, and some sorry-looking carrots and onions, plus some butchered meat dangling in the heat - it really made clear why their food was often a bit average, and why the chicken and pork was often cooked to an almost inedible degree: to render it less likely to kill you. Most of the accommodation was in private homes, or casa particulares, and this was the setting for some of the better meals on the trip - the best was probably in Baracoa on the eastern side of the island, where we enjoyed a real feast of what they called langoustine, which we would probably call crayfish, rice and beans, bread and salads, washed down with fresh guava juice.

Another favourite meal was in a fried chicken place that took all the "fast" out of "fast food" - from ordering to eating, over two hours for a simple plate of chicken leg and thigh the breast meat is saved for those high up in government and the better hotels over polenta. State run, just in case you were wondering. So, for anyone who is planning a trip to Cuba - don't go especially for the food.

The architecture, music, history and beaches all make it totally worthwhile, anyway, but in terms of food, if you go with very low expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised by some of the food, whereas other meals may leave you speechless.

And not in a good way. What do you know of Cuban food? Have you been to Cuba? If so, when? And what were the best and worst meals you had there? An issue I have with Cuban food is the amount of pork Cubans eat. There is too much pork in their diet. This is obvious by the amount of fat Cubans you see on the streets. Cubans are friendly and I want them to enjoy their lives — healthy. Pork is a cheap meat for Cubans to buy. For the pig farmers, they are easier to breed than cows.

Pigs have a gestation period of four months and give birth to more than ten piglets. You understand what I am saying? Pigs and piglets everywhere. But not as naive as you think I am. I have to give opinions on the not-so-good things I experience. I still love Cuba and have friends there. Maybe croquetas made from chicken or ham also fried.

And, god knows, ham and cheese sandwiches are ubiquitous. With the arrival of the Soviets, yogurt was introduced into the Cuban diet and it remains popular, but as an independent supplement.

A particular post-revolution phenomenon is pizza , usually bought out on the streets, with a thick and spongy crust, the barest brush of tomato sauce and cheese.

There are many apocryphal stories about these pizzas, including one about Chinese condoms being melted and used in place of cheese during the worst of times, but generally speaking, pizzas are edible if not particularly tasty. Basic spices like oregano, paprika, bay leaves and pepper can be found there, too. Seafood, particularly shellfish, remains restricted, usually reserved to serve to foreigners in tourist establishments — and to the likes of Anthony Bourdain.

Lately, President Raul Castro has been making noises about eliminating the ration book. This has meant a spike in business to the local carry-out joints, which are proliferating all over the city as more and more licenses are given out. My dream is that with greater variety, and less reliance on the state, Cubans might actually enjoy cooking again, sparking their imaginations and curiosity about food.