The countdown for the 3rd edition of Destinos Gaviota Tourism Trade Fair has already begun, an important event that will take place in the northern keys of Villa Clara in Cuba. From December 7th to 12th, professionals from all over the world will have the opportunity of meeting again and share strategies focused on reviving trips to the largest island in the Caribbean.
The travel show will be “a key event to promote Cuba, its gastronomic panorama, the uniqueness of its cities and its nature.” And indeed, the national culinary art will have an excellent representation in Nativa, a brand of the Gaviota group that combines typical cuisine with the most current international trends. Delicious Cuban starters, main courses, desserts and cocktails will open a new world of flavors to those who will attend Destinos Gaviota. Dishes will be part of the menu in buffet restaurants and bars, especially in Paradisus Los Cayos -the event’s host hotel, recognized for the variety of restaurant and gastronomic spaces.
Authentic Cuban recipes will have a leading role in the event. This zone of the island gave birth to some of the most popular national dishes such as, the cornmeal with crab (highly appreciated meat crab), the Amaro chicken shredded with bacon and served in its own creole sauce, the entomatada potatoes … The proximity of the sea is present in preparations such as salads and seafood stews, bonefish-based meatballs (an exquisite fish) and dog sauce from the town of Caibarién. Yes, you read that right! Dog sauce or dogfish sauce, a spectacular dish created in the first decade of the last century. They say that a traveler arrived at the “Hotel España” in this city, where, due to the lateness of the hour, only the remains of the dinner, some food and the masses of a fish known as “dog” by the locals remained. Demetrio, owner of the hotel, had the happy idea of preparing a stew by mixing everything together, and the result was so good that the guest did not manage to ask what it was until after he had eaten his entire portion. When he did, the answer was definitive: dog sauce.
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Among the desserts, so appreciated by Cubans and by those who love Cuba, will be the majarete or cream of tender corn with milk; the cabezote, a very light sponge cake bathed in syrup; the scraping obtained from the juice of the sugar cane and the guava husks, just to name the most tempting ones. And for drink? Here the offer is extremely varied, like the cocktail tradition that all of Cuba is proud of; but among the must-sees suggested by Nativa, you shouldn’t miss out on trying the sambumbia (brandy and guarapo or cane honey), the saoco (white rum and coconut water) or the Mary Pickford (Havana Club rum, pineapple juice, lemon, grenadine and maraschino). It will be a pleasant surprise!
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From the process of obtaining the food to its tasting, Nativa offers a unique gastronomic style, paired with stories and culture. Register as a participant in Destinos Gaviota and stay with Meliá to discover this captivating way of living the Cuba experience.
