Born and raised in Havana, Ramses H. Batista is one of Cuba’s best-known photographers.
He founded a photography studio and gallery, conducts workshops, and guides visiting photographers around the island.
“I found out that the best way for me to talk to people was through my photos,” Batista said during a recent phone call.
He has been spending a good bit of time in Atlanta, working on Big Green Egg’s next cookbook, “The Flavors of the Caribbean.”
Credit: Lia Hernandez
Credit: Lia Hernandez
Batista explained that many visitors don’t understand the culinary history of Cuba and the Caribbean.
“They think it’s just rice and beans,” he said. “So, with all my friends at Big Green Egg, there was the idea to create a book that would bring that hidden treasure of the islands over here.”
The book is expected to be released in early 2022, when Batista is planning to embark on a U.S. book tour. In the meantime, Big Green Egg is previewing a classic recipe for ropa vieja.
“I first met with lots of chefs to get that orientation,” Batista said. “I’m a photographer, not a chef, so I had to learn, and travel to the source.”
He added that the recipe in the book for ropa vieja originally was from the area where Christopher Columbus first landed. “That’s how far it goes back.”
Ropa Vieja
This recipe, named with the Spanish term for “old clothes,” typically is made with flank steak, which is quite lean and has long, shredded fibers, resembling torn clothes. This is one of Cuba’s most popular traditional recipes.
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
