Free enterprise

In America, when you're a kid and want some candy money you get some lemons or Kool-aid mix it with sugar, you go out on your street and sell it. This act was not legal in Cuba until recently and they are definitely still working out the kinks. First you could have a restaurant in your house with up to 12 people, then they moved it up to 20 people, then up to 50, which if you ask me is a full restaurant.

Pizza shops are all over the place. This one opened in the country town of Viñales.
He got a homemade oven and bakes them off as the orders roll in.





Never before in Cuba has there been delivery food,
But it is coming to Havana in the form of pizza.



La Moraleja - The Moral


It had Beautiful orchids hanging down as you walked in.


Outdoor bar and seating or a great AC cooled room for those hot Cuban days


The story behind this place was apparently that there were two brothers, one of them moved to Miami, the other one stayed in Havana. He opened up a restaurant and is doing great, while his brother is struggling to get by in Miami, so La Moraleja of the story is: stay home.


They even had a fish tank


This place was on the 5th floor of an apartment complex.


The plates had the name of the cafe on it.


The french-trained chef was said to have left his job in a state restaurant to join the new paladar.


Another restaurant went for a chic retro feel.


It looked like Miami beach


Whats exciting to see is that this movement of economic self-reliance is spreading and people are learning how to make it work. Granted, some will thrive, some will fail, that's just what happens with any competition. Competition is ultimately good for the consumer.