Sakura

The 5-star, adults only hotel, Melias Los Americas, offers many food devouring venues. (When it’s 5 stars, consumption is high). As mentioned in previous posts, there is the main buffet, 24 hour bar, and several themed restaurants. On the night following our Havana Day Excursion, my parents & I had reserved to eat at the Japanese restaurant named Sakura. The restaurant occupies a separate building behind one of the pools & has a large welcoming statue of Buddha.

We entered the dimly lit restaurant and were escorted by a Cuban waitress dressed in a Japanese robe to a large square table that seated around 12 people. In the centre sat two large grills that would be used by the chef. The other tourists who sat with us were from Canada, England, Australia, and I think the USA.

First course was the appetizers, Miso soup & sushi, served with your choice of beer or wine. The soup was quite good but to me it can’t rival China’s Wonton Soup. As for the sushi, it was presented in culinary art form, meaning more plate & not enough food. We each received 4 pieces with wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce. I equally distributed the wasabi & ginger over the 4 pieces and happily ate them with my chop sticks. There were forks on hand for those who couldn’t eat with chop sticks. If you ever have a stuffed nose, eat sushi with wasabi. Breathe in the wasabi aroma through your nose & it’ll clear everything inside with a burning sensation.

The chef arrived everyone finished their appetizers & began preparing the main course. He looked French to me rather than Cuban, and I assumed that he had received his training overseas. The more I watched him work his ‘magic’ on the grills, the more I realized why we were given so little sushi; the main course contained chicken, beef, rice, various vegetables, and several sauces. Of course, he did the favourite ‘high rising flame’ trick before serving the main course first to the ladies, then to the men. I have to say, but the meal was pretty good, convincing you that you were indeed staying at a 5 star resort. Except I had this peculiar feeling that water had been added to the white wine.

Well, long story short, I couldn’t finish the main course because there was still desert. I really should have skipped lunch that day. Everyone applauded the chef for preparing the main course just as he was about leave. Once he left, our table was cleared, and the waitresses served desert which was a hot ice cream ball pastry. Best to eat it before the ice cream turns into soup.

Overall, the three course Japanese meal was pretty good in my mind, and I recommend it to those who stay at Melia Los Americas. Just bring a big appetite and an empty stomach because there is a lot to sample.

As my parents & I were leaving, I thanked the chef for the meal and tipped him with a 3 CUC paper bill. We walked around the compound, enjoying the nightly warm weather & the sounds of the distant waves crashing onto the beach.