Poetic Cookery: Dos Gardenias

Dos Gardenias, a song about passion, about love, and a premonition for betrayal all in one. This is a Cuban bolero song, which is a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. The music is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and a subtle percussion effect, usually implemented with Conga or Bongos. written by Isolina Carrilo in 1930 and since then an essential part of every bolero singer's repertoire. It was sung by the late Ibrahim Ferrer in the famous tear-catching stage scene with Omara Portuondo as part of the Buena Vista Social Club recording.

Dos Gardenias para tí

Con ellas quiero decir:

Te quiero, te adoro, mi vida

Ponle toda tu atención

Porque son tu corazón y el mío.

Dos gardenias para tí

Que tendrán todo el calor de un beso

De esos besos que te dí

Y que jamás encontrarás

En el calor de otro querer.

A tu lado vivirán y se hablarán

Como cuando estás conmigo

Y hasta creerás que te dirán:

Te quiero.

Pero si un atardecer

Las gardenias de mi amor se mueren

Es porque han adivinado

Que tu amor me ha traicionado

Porque existe otro querer.

English Translation

Two Gardenias for you

With these I mean to say:

I love you, I adore you, my life

Look after them because

They are your heart and mine.

Two Gardenias for you

With all the warmth of a kiss

Like those I gave to you

Kisses that you will never know

In the embrace of another.

They will live beside you

And talk to you as I do

And you will even believe that you hear them say:

I love you.

But if one late evening

The Gardenias should die

It´s because they know

That you have betrayed me

And that you love another.

It is such a powerful poem sung by a powerful singer with a powerful voice and powerful music. It is the essence of bolero. It has been sung since the 30's, but Ibrahim Ferrer gave true depth and meaning to it. I think that creating a meal for such music is a bit challenging. Should it be Cuban ? or should it be a deconstruction of the Cuban cuisine and then reconstructed to match the emotional output of the song. Cuban cuisine interestingly, has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures. However, it is a cuisine that is developed by peasants, so most of the food is slow cooked over a low flame with very simple ingredients. It is this purity that reflects the Cuban culture. For me to reconstruct the cuisine, I must be careful not to destroy such purity, but rather show the cuisine in its other face. Imust use the same cookig method and ingredients, but reconstruct it into many different dishes. So here is what I came up with.

Starter: Pastelitos (small flaky turnovers) filled with black beans, yuca, cumin and cheese served with a dip of Guava-Mojo ( which includes hot olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin)

Main: Fritas (Cuban style burger) made with ground beef patty mixed with garlic and black beans, topped with lettuce, tomato, matchstick potato fries and sofrito (consists of onion, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and ground pepper quick-fried in olive oil.) served witha side of fried plantain chips with garlic sauce.

Dessert: Cafe con Leche Flan (Coffee with milk creme caramel)