Sabor Cubana
This venture started when Michael Vittiglio started cooking for his family and friends after moving here from New York City back in January of 2011. Half Italian, half Cuban, he brought an interesting gamut of styles and recipes to the table (literally)!
The Italian dishes were tasty but who hasn't already tried at least ten types of "spaghetti with meatballs"? It was the arroz con pollo and picadillo (pronounced "poh-yo" and "pee-ka-dee-yo" respectively) that led to to-go containers most of the time.
The recipes of his grandmother, Gladys Gonzalez, brought a part of his family so far away back into his home. To quote Gladys' father, Antonio, "As long as you remember me, I will always be with you."
Good food is a gift. To bring the joyful memories of Sunday dinner into our lives through dishes prepared by Mike's grandmother is the best way to honor her memory. Enjoying these dishes is special for us, we hope it can bring some of that joy to you.
Common questions
I'd like to buy some delicious food. Where can I get some?
Come down to The Mustard Seed located in Canal Place, Little Falls, NY. Feel free to pre-order online to make sure we hold one for you! You can also contact us via our contact page for inquiries regarding wholesale and special orders.
What are the ingredients?
The black beans contain the following: black beans (bought dry), dry white cooking wine, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, green pepper, yellow onion, garlic, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
How should we reheat the beans?
If kept frozen, you should leave it in the fridge to thaw the day before. Of course, you can also put the beans into a microwave for 3-5 minutes (depends on your microwave) or into a pot at low temperature over the stove for 10 minutes or so.
Why "Corona"?
The meals that we enjoyed were in our grandmother's home in Corona, New York City.
Where does "La Corona Cubana" operate out of?
We make our food out of The Mustard Seed located in Canal Place, Little Falls, NY.
Are there any preservatives or additional ingredients?
Nope! We strive to keep whatever our customers enjoy to be as close to the original recipe as we can. That being said, this is why we prepare our product in batches as small as possible to ensure that whatever you find on the shelf is fresh.
How long can you keep the beans in the fridge?
If kept frozen, the beans can sit for about three months. After opened, a week should be the longest you keep it around.
What's with the red beanie logo?
The Cuban coat of arms has a cap at the top known as the Phrygian cap. The cap was often used as a symbol of liberty by the United States which inspired the Cubans to follow suit. You'll find the cap on the seal for the US Senate and US Army.
Corona means "crown" in Spanish and so we chose this part of the coat of arms as it felt fitting (not making a hat pun).