Chef-owner Daniel Diaz draws equally upon his heritage and professional training to produce some of the most authentic Cuban cuisine anywhere. With the knowledge of a professionally trained chef and a lifetime of Cuban home cooking, his cuisine straddles the gap between the many neighborhood Spanish restaurants that litter the inner cities of northern New Jersey and the chic Nuevo Latino restaurants in New York City. Chef Diaz picks up the cacerola where Veloso, Andrés and Douglas  Rodriguez have all left off.

    His traditional dishes depend on uncompromising fresh genuine ingredients and original recipes to capture the simple and hearty essence of Cuban cooking. His liberal Nuevo Latino recipes make use of the amazing array of ingredients that comprise Latin American cooking to create colorful dishes with the contrasting flavors and textures that has made this cuisine so popular in recent years.

    Chef Diaz has garnered many accolades from the food press. Among his many fans are some of the most famous personalities from the entertainment and political world, as well as the most demanding Cuban house wives looking for taste of home cooking without the dirty dishes.  

Training

           Chef Bensky Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine at La Bibliotheque Restaurant, The Rainbow Room and The Lotus Club.

           Chef Dillon of the cooking show "Let's Cook with Paul Dillon"

           Mrs. Meguerditchian Qualified Mixologist; Connaisseur de Vins de France; Wine & Wine Service; Champagne News and Information Bureau. She was the Food and Beverage Director at the Matterhorn Restaurant Hotel and            Conference Center; Maître’ D at the Appenzeller Stube

           Chef O'Malley  Executive Chef Rainbow Room, The Helmsley Palace and Hilton Corporation

           Chef Edward Noor Executive Chef Fromagerie and The Quey

Awards         

Medal for Civilian Service

          Commanders Award for Civilian Service

          Employee of the year Fort Monmouth 1998

Challenge Coins from Col. Anthony Reyes, Lt. Col. Ricki Sullivan, IMA and General Tommy Franks Commander in Chief  


Events / Notables 
  
Donald Rumsfeld, Hilary Clinton, Stedman, Bobby Baldwin, Donald Trump, Governor Corizine, The NY Giants, The Greek Metro, Joe Pesci, Jon Bonjovi Sr. & Jr, Phil Simms, The Japanese UN delegate party. Coordinating events for statesmen politicians and government such as the first Homeland Security Conference, IMA, CECOM functions, The Generals Ball and The Annual Saint Barbara Artillery Ball.  Diverse cultural events such as Taliban wedding, Hasidic wedding and a Saudi wedding.
 

Certifications

          Associates Degree Culinary Arts

          New Jersey Certified Food Manager

          New Jersey Certified Dietetic Assistant

          HACCP Serve Safe 100% twice

          Sanitarian National Restaurant Association

Events / Notables 
  
          Donald Rumsfeld, Hilary Clinton, Stedman, Bobby Baldwin, Donald Trump, Governor Corizine, The NY Giants, The Greek Metro, Joe Pesci, Jon Bonjovi Sr. & Jr, Phil Simms, The Japanese UN delegate party. Coordinating                   events for statesmen politicians and government such as the first Homeland Security Conference, IMA, CECOM functions, The Generals Ball and The Annual Saint Barbara Artillery Ball.  Diverse cultural events such as               Taliban wedding, Hasidic wedding and a Saudi wedding.