If you grew up in Tampa and, especially if you were of Spanish, Italian or Cuban decent, you knew who Clarita was and almost every Latino home had a copy of her book. While my recipes differ from hers in some ways, I got many of my inspirations from her book; dishes such as picadillo, ropa vieja, brazo gitano, rabos de toro, and arroz con pollo. She and her husband managed one of the most popular and historic Spanish Restaurants in Tampa (http://www.tampapix.com/lasnovedades.htm). The restaurant’s ownership history involves no less than three men named “Manuel”. I was not one of them!!!!
From her jacket cover:
The most important ingredient of fine Spanish cooking isn’t sold in any store. It’s the knowledge and respect of culinary tradition that can only be learned among the enticing aromas, the warmth and the love of a Spanish home kitchen. And that’s where, as a young girl, Clarita Garcia of the world-famous Las Novedades began to collect the wealth of practical knowledge, colorful anecdotes, and tempting recipes that fill this book.
The recipes themselves (a very small sampling appears on the back of this jacket) are remarkably authentic, clear and diverse – gathered from the author’s friends and relatives in Spain and America, from the recipe file of the famous restaurant in Tampa she and her husband once operated, and from among the special creations of her own home kitchen. In addition, Clarita Garcia has enriched the book with nostalgic reminiscences of her childhood, fascinating bits of Spanish folklore, and countless down-to-earth pointers on marketing, utensils, spices, convenience foods, modern appliances, and what to do with leftovers. The result is a truly complete book of Spanish home cooking, a practical and convenient guide for the novice and the experienced cook alike.
