This Friday, a Cuban family is set to unveil Cubamar, a new restaurant in Covas, Viveiro (Lugo, Galicia), offering a unique blend of Cuban and Galician cuisine. This culinary venture not only showcases the creativity of its founders but also underscores the harsh realities they left behind in Cuba.
According to La Voz de Galicia, the restaurant is spearheaded by 25-year-old Beatriz Alonso, her partner Juan Manuel, and her mother-in-law Elvys Rosa. They justify their decision to emigrate with a stark statement that encapsulates the economic turmoil in Cuba.
“Over there, the monthly salary is 3,500 pesos, while a carton of eggs costs 4,000,” they told Spanish media.
Cubamar will open its doors in the Parquemar building, merely steps away from another Cuban restaurant already operating in the same location.
This neighboring establishment is Mesón Doña Inés, which resumed operations in May under the management of 39-year-old Cuban entrepreneur Yoel Herrera Frometa.
Herrera Frometa, too, left Cuba driven by the island's ongoing crisis. “I never minded the cold in Viveiro; I just wanted to work and send money back to Cuba,” he shared.
The Rise of Caribbean Culinary Culture in Galicia
The presence of two Cuban restaurants within the same building transforms the Parquemar of Covas into a small hub of Caribbean gastronomy on the Galician coast. This reflects a steady influx of Cuban migrants to coastal areas of Galicia.
The statement from the Cubamar family is far from hyperbolic. The official average monthly salary in Cuba stands at 6,930 pesos, which is less than 10 dollars on the informal exchange market.
An egg costs approximately 100 Cuban pesos, making a carton of 30 eggs exceed 3,000 pesos, a sum greater than what many workers earn in a month.
This dire situation has fueled massive emigration, with Spain emerging as one of the top destinations, particularly because many Cubans hold dual nationality. Between 2023 and 2024, more than 53,100 Cubans arrived in Spain, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics.
Galician Ties and Cuban Migration
Galicia and Cuba share a historical bond due to Galician emigration to the island during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Many modern-day Cubans have Galician ancestry, which eases their path to Spanish citizenship and access to support networks within the autonomous community, making Galicia a common destination for those escaping the crisis.
The hospitality industry has become a principal avenue for economic integration for Cubans in Galicia. In this recent migration wave, the first Cuban restaurant in Santiago de Compostela opened in July 2019, and since then, the number of Cuban culinary businesses in the region has consistently grown.
Cuban Migration and Culinary Influence in Galicia
What inspired the opening of Cubamar in Viveiro, Galicia?
The economic difficulties in Cuba prompted Beatriz Alonso and her family to emigrate and open Cubamar, offering a fusion of Cuban and Galician cuisine in Viveiro.
Why is Galicia a popular destination for Cuban emigrants?
Galicia is a favored destination due to historical ties with Cuba, many Cubans have Galician ancestry, facilitating Spanish citizenship and providing access to community support networks.
How has Cuban cuisine integrated into Galician society?
Cuban cuisine has integrated through the growing number of Cuban restaurants, contributing to the region's diverse culinary landscape and reflecting the Cuban community's economic integration.