Describe your establishment... At Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar we celebrate the Cuba of a bygone era… a time of intrigue and romance. This mystique and "forbiddenness" have put Cuban culture, and in particular, its food, on the U.S. culinary map. Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is dedicated to celebrating Cuban heritage. We strive for a continuing exploration of Cuban art, music, flavors and traditions. With a delectable menu of traditional and updated Cuban cuisine, both our Philadelphia and Atlantic City locations are must-see, must-experience destinations. How does turkey fit in with the scheme of your operation? Turkey's mild flavor makes an ideal palette for flavorful Cuban seasonings. It is versatile enough to be used in sandwiches, such as our popular Medianoche sandwich, a pressed sandwich incorporating smoked turkey, and to be featured in entrees, such as our Pavo Pavo Pavo, which showcases three Cuban interpretations of turkey. How do you currently menu turkey? Our Medianoche sandwich includes smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard, on hot, pressed sweet brioche. Turkey is also prepared in three ways in our Pavo Pavo Pavo, which we ran for six weeks over the holidays. Pavo Ropa Vieja, Pavo Matambre and Pavo Stuffed with Crawfish and Mushrooms. Because of its success, it will be featured on our "Specials Menu" throughout the year. What are the compelling points that make turkey adaptable for lunch and dinner dishes? Turkey is adaptable for a variety of preparation methods and it works well with multiple seasonings. It can be marinated, roasted, stuffed or smoked. It works beautifully in salads or sandwiches as well as in a center-of-the-plate formats. Why do you think your patrons order these turkey items? Turkey is a familiar favorite. It is also high in protein, low in fat and carbohydrate free. Ordering turkey items allows our guests to be more adventurous with seasonings and other components of the dish. From a business perspective, why do you include turkey on your menu (food cost, versatility, consumer demand, etc)? Turkey is not costly and is versatile. Turkey is cost effective versatile. Guests are familiar with it and enjoy it. At Cuba Libre we can use this protein with Latin ingredients and cooking techniques and still keep the dish approachable to our customers. When thinking about other proteins you serve why did you choose turkey for this menu item as opposed to chicken, beef or pork? At the time we were approaching Thanksgiving season and turkey was the most natural choice for this holiday. How does turkey fit in with a Latin restaurant concept? Turkey works in updated applications of Cuban cuisine. Because of all the different cuts available, turkey allows my staff and I at Cuba Libreto adapt it to a variety of creations. With the recent push in the industry for healthy menu options, how does turkey help you meet this growing consumer demand? Consumers see turkey as healthy. It is low fat, high protein and carbohydrate free. How do you use the web as a tool in your work? Communication, fact finding and culinary current events. Do you use the NTF web site as a resource? Of course! We adore the web site! Back to top of page