The longstanding flagship restaurant for Cuban cuisine in San Marco, Havana Jax, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said owner Silvia Pulido.
Havana Jax’s origin began when Pulido cooked her way through a Cuban-inspired cookbook she received from her then-husband.
“I loved to cook, so I read that book like a Bible. I learned how to do pretty much everything,” said Pulido.
Pulido “parachuted” into the restaurant business when Havana Jax opened in 1994. After conquering the front-of-house, she grabbed her spoon and headed to the back.
“If I don’t eat it, I cannot sell it. So that’s when I got into the kitchen. That’s when I fell in love with the place,” she said.
Early on, Pulido said she struggled to find the black beans, plantains and spices signature to the Cuban flavors, even putting in ingredient orders to people traveling to Miami. She loves sprinkling her Nicaraguan heritage into the family recipes served at the restaurant.
“It’s all Latin American – we have the same rice, beans, the same dishes – but different flavors. I blend it to my taste,” she said.
Ten years after the opening of Havana Jax, in 2004, Pulido bought the building and opened Cuba Libre Lounge. She says she has no interest in franchising. Instead, she looks to continue her “vertical” growth by expanding her catering services out of the atypically large Havana Jax kitchen.
Now, Havana Jax is a San Marco staple. Pulido has no problem finding ingredients, and she is celebrating Havana Jax’s 30th anniversary with acts of gratitude toward the community that has supported her.
Havana Jax marked the start of its celebrations with a VIP party May 24. Each month, it plans to bring something different to the year-long celebration – concerts, new dishes, specials and desserts.
“I have a lot of appreciation. I want to say ‘thank you’ to all the community who have supported me. I am planning to stay here for many more years, and I expect them to always come back to a place where they can eat Cuban food like any place in Havana,” she said.
