La Pequeña Habana prepares ropa vieja

Many regulars find a little bit of their Cuba in La Pequeña Habana. That's why a lot of Cubans living in Berlin come here. But the restaurant is also a welcome surprise for new customers - especially because of the seasonal fish dishes and other specialties. There may be plenty of Cuban bars in Berlin, but a place like La Pequeña Habana is truly one-of-a-kind.

Iris Garofalo grew up in a small town in Cuba. She accepted her uncle's invitation to visit him in Berlin in 1999, and has been here ever since. Eric Garofalo was born in the same town as his wife. They lived only 50 meters apart, but never ran into each other. He studied agriculture and moved to Italy, where he met his wife, who was vacationing there. They moved in together in Berlin in 2008.

"I am very passionate in my work. I've always liked cooking and gained a lot of experience working in different kitchens. After thinking long and hard about it, I decided to present my culture by cooking for a German clientele." - Eric Garofalo

"I was always interested in gastronomy. It's not really possible in Cuba - for people to open up their own business. And even when I was studying something else, I was always interested in it. When I was little, my favorite place was the kitchen. I was always in there with my grandma. She liked to cook for a lot of people and I was right there with her." - Iris Garofalo

After cooking, the stewed beef is pulled apart, giving it the appearance of torn fabric. That's likely where the name came from. "Ropa Vieja" means "old clothes." But it's unclear where the recipe originated. Some say the original comes from the Canary Islands or from the Spanish mainland.