The most international Cuban restaurant marks its 80th anniversary

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 26 (ACN) Perhaps few places in Havana and Cuba have welcomed so many personalities from the cultural, political and social spheres of the country and other latitudes, in addition to hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists, as La Bodeguita del Medio, which today, April 26, celebrates its 80th anniversary.

While enjoying a mojito, some Cuban cuisine and typical music, visitors learn about the stay of famous writers, artists, politicians, athletes and other personalities from the photos, objects and signatures printed on the walls, although some graffiti - given the passage of time and periodic maintenance actions - are not very noticeable.

Eduardo Garcia, the lounge master, proudly explains how the ministry of tourism has created franchises of the famous restaurant in Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Germany, England, Ukraine, Prague and Gijon in Spain, while in Cuba there are, for example, in Varadero, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.

The origin of the entity dates back to 1942, when it was not yet a restaurant, but a small grocery store and its owner, Angel Martinez, sold fried foods and some drinks, but very close there was a printing press, and intellectuals after doing their business, met in the bodeguita, and this was giving it some notoriety.

When the Cuban Revolution triumphed, Martinez, the owner, donated the establishment to the government, which would later be closed for a long time and thanks to Nicolas Guillen, our National Poet, it was rescued.

Today, at the age of 80 years, it is an emblematic place because of the quality and the Cuban character of its dishes and drinks, for that mojito -which was not born there but became institutionalized-, for its contribution to the national culture and for the fact that Cuba is known and loved in many nations, for those who have left an indelible mark in that, their second home, and for those who with their hard work and creativity continue making history there.