the Year Plátanos Disappeared: Memories and Recipes from a Cuban Childhood

The Year the Plátanos Disappeared is a deeply personal memoir told through food, memory, and survival.Growing up in Cuba during the 1950s and 60s, Joaquin Gasso experienced a childhood filled with flavor, family, and tradition - until scarcity, political upheaval, and uncertainty reshaped daily life. Through vivid stories of love, resilience, and migration, he recounts moments both tender and dramatic: the disappearance of beloved fruits, quiet Christmas dinners with almost nothing to eat, the fear of departure, and the first taste of freedom in a new country.Interwoven with these memories are authentic recipes passed through generations - Cuban classics, family favorites, and dishes shaped by travel and adaptation. From tostones and arroz con pollo to bread pudding, lentils, and rum cake, each recipe carries a story, preserving culture through cooking.This book is not only about food. It is about home, loss, gratitude, and the enduring power of memory.Perfect for readers who love: - Culinary memoirs- Cuban and Latin cuisine- Immigration and coming-of-age stories- Family history and cultural storytellingSometimes what we cook is not just a meal - it is what remains.