The Commerce and Gastronomy sector of Havana has announced food offers for the end of the year in the capital, although "they are still very far from the possibilities of satisfying the needs of the population," according to Julio Martínez, program coordinator of the provincial government. .
The offer includes networks for the sale of products that have not been seen in stores for a long time, such as pork, sausages and frozen fish.
What is presented as a "coordinated action by organizations, ministries, producing companies and city authorities" includes a list of places (about 80 units for pork, about 40 with meat derivatives and another 39 for fish), which will market between December 20 and 31, in a free but controlled manner, with the annotation in the supply book and presentation of the identity card, the advertised products.
The idea, the authorities specify, is that each family unit buys only once, "to avoid hoarding and ensure that these foods reach as many households as possible."
The network will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. According to Martínez, in the case of pork, the sale will be by piece (loin, shoulder, leg and rib), while in the case of fish it will be sold by unit and pounds, depending on the species and size, to avoid chopping it.
According to Martínez, “we also have a level of beer – packaged and dispensed – in restaurants, as well as in Ideal chain markets, although distant from demand, while jams have been reserved for playgrounds.
As part of the proposals of the Habana Restaurants Company, Havana families will also be able to reserve food to take home in restaurants such as Mandarin (special fried rice), Yang-Tsé (special fried rice and other Chinese dishes), El Pío Pío on L Street (fried chicken, by the ounce), Rancho Luna (whole roasted and stuffed chicken), Siete Mares (Siete Mares special paella), El Conejito (whole rabbit roasted in juice), and La Ostionera (special paella Oyster farm).
There are different modalities to access the gastronomic proposals. In some units you can both enjoy dinners and take them home, reserve suckling pigs and even reserve delivery.
A total of 25 facilities will provide dinner and other options: El Cochinito (suckling pig), Siete Mares y Ostionera (take away), Castillo Jagua, Club 21, Monseigneur and El Conejito (mutton), Rancho Luna, Mandarin, Caribeño (suckling pig, turkey in the unit and mutton), El Bosque, El Encanto and Monaco (mamón pork and family pizza), El Jardín (mamón pork, turkey and at home, by 7831-1414), Yang Tsé, Las Bulerías, Emperador, Hurón Azul , Ranchón Santa Fe (7290-7511) and Rancho Giraldilla (7879-3537, suckling pork, turkey in the unit, mutton and at home), Montecattini, Doña Rossina and La Romanita (family pizza) and Trastevere (suckling pork).
The Provincial Accommodation Company (EPA) also announced that it will make seven facilities available to the population for recreational purposes: Libertad, Cristal, Cocal and Chicola villas, Casa Maravilla and Aparthotel Lupe.
These facilities will be added to the rest of the company's accommodations for holding dinners, both to consume and to take away, including suckling pigs, with various types of complete dishes that include starters, salads, rice, beans, main course (chicken, beef and pork), food, dessert and liquids, among others. This network is made up of Villa Carmen, Celestes, Ligerito, Centro hotels, the Los Pinos and La Vía houses, the El Colonial and Ranchito restaurants, the La Caleta and El Recreo cafes, La Palma and the Río Cristal complex.
The Provincial Recreation Company also announced programs for "healthy recreation that covers various segments of the population and their different ages," with gastronomy as a complement to recreational services.
With 35 facilities grouped by specialized services, it will offer New Year's Eve menu dinners on December 24, 25 and 31 for takeout and by reservation (with roast pork, turkey and chicken), in different establishments.
Recreational activities will be carried out in the Children's Parks, with community projects from the territories, magicians, clowns; Cocos Island Park and all Recreational Complexes will have cultural, children's and adult activities with small and large groups.
Additionally, in Lenin Park, 11 units will be made available to the population that will provide varied offers of chicken, pork and beef, in different modalities. The local restaurants will have other offers.
In the city's 15 municipalities there will also be dinner offers in restaurants and takeaway in a network of 70 units, to enjoy closer to home.
A network of 25 establishments will provide family pizzas.
Sales of the desired pork have been distributed by units of the Trade network of the different popular councils, although several users complain that their councils have not been included in the list.
Different points have also been set up in the capital for the sale of canned meats and frozen fish.
For their part, in the Network of Ideal Markets, local authorities assured, drinks, soft drinks, some jams and baskets will be sold at the end of the year.
Government information reminds that, due to the epidemiological situation derived from COVID-19, it is essential to maintain hygienic-sanitary measures aimed at the population and workers.
Despite the long list that accompanies the government announcement, everything seems to indicate that the demand for food (some at very high prices) far exceeds the supply.
On social media, several Cubans mentioned endless lists for new products.
"I'm going to sign up for the list out there to buy pork at the fair on the 29th. It's going for 5021, if someone fails I have a chance," wrote, for example, someone who signs as "Francisnet Díaz."
As for Cubans living in other provinces, it seems that they will have less luck: many Santiago residents, for example, rushed last month to buy pork for the traditional dinner on the last day of the year,because they feared that the uncontrollable escalation of prices would raise the cost of that meat to unaffordable levels.
In Villa Clara, on the other hand,Even the official media have defined the markets' supply as "anemic".
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