Peru’s newest food offering, A Cuban & A Half, is set to open Tuesday, with a buzz already surrounding their menu of traditional Cuban dishes. Hilda Lennon and her daughter Lyndi Cook hope to bring a taste of their family tradition to Peru and give back through their distinct flavors.
The story of the restaurant begins with a rowboat and a risky escape from the Castro regime. Lennon said her father fled Cuba in 1961 by taking a rowboat during the night and were eventually able to bring the rest of the family to the United States in 1963. She began to cook at a young age and learned from her mother, who would host large family gatherings – many of which centered around food.
“My mom cooked at home every day,” Lennon said. “Everybody just liked her food; my husband liked it and my kids liked it, and soas my mom aged, you know, I kind of took over and I’d cook and feed her and take her food.”
Cook, the “half” in the restaurant’s name, said she’s been trying to convince her mother to start cooking for others. When the kitchen space at 7 South became available, Cook and Lennon jumped.
“I’ve been trying to get her to do a food truck, but the timing was never right. But when we saw the ad for the kitchen opening up, we thought, ‘Let’s go look and see,’ and didn’t go in there thinking much of it,” Lennon said. “It just all came about quickly,” Cook added.
Cuban food mainly revolves around staples like rice, beans, and plantains, and incorporates flavors from both Spanish and Caribbean cuisine. The menu for the first week features picadillo and puerco asado, as well as a la carte options ranging from Cuban sandwiches to yuca with mojo. They plan to rotate each week so customers can try a wide range of foods.
“We’re not spicy, we’re seasoned,” Lennon said. “Your oreganos, your cumin, your garlic. Nothing ever comes out of my kitchen spicy.”
The new food offering is different from many of the restaurants in the area – most focus on Mexican, Chinese, or American cuisine. Cook said the addition of Cuban food to the area will give Peru residents a new flavor.
“I mean we need variety here,” Cook said. “My mom’s always talked about how accepting the community was when they moved here, so we want to bring something here and go back to our roots and pay homage to the ones who have passed before us.”
The pair announced the restaurant with a Facebook post Thursday, Feb. 22, and said their first pickup date would be Tuesday, March 5. The buzz from the announcement was encouraging to both Lennon and Cook.
“I guess I’ve just been really surprised at the response,” Lennon said. “… I think the uniqueness is what’s going to get the curiosity of people.”
Her daughter said the positive comments and excitement from the community helped them know they would be successful.
“When we put it out there and saw the response, I think that totally sold her on, like, ‘OK, this is going to work.’ No one has ever not liked [her food]. They might not like one thing, but there’s always something they like – and they’ll request it.”
The menu will be released each Wednesday, and ordering will be open via Facebook until Saturday at 9 p.m. Orders can then be picked up Tuesday afternoon from the location at 7 South. They plan to have a small seating area and hope to eventually expand seating outside.
