The Columbian: Pambiche Sizzles with Taste of Cuba

September 22, 200 by Kathryn Kurtz

“At Pambiche I found the kind of restaurant that I adore: small, authentic, unassuming, and brimming with vigor.” “……owner-chef John Connell-Maribona has styled the menu after his family recipes. His grandfather came to Portland as Cuban consul general under Fulgencio Batista and while here, Fidel Castro overthrew the government. Because the family couldn’t return home, they stayed. Cuba’s misfortune, our gain.”

“After working as a chef and pastry chef for 18 years, Connell-Maribona wanted us to taste his natural, not fussy Cuban food; well seasoned, not hot….”

“I wasn’t expecting such an elaborate pastry case displaying cream cakes, coconut tortes, caramel custard and guava cheesecake. It stared at us. So we made dessert plans before ordering appetizers. Connell-Maribona makes all 25-30 traditional and Cuban inspired sweets from scratch, rich creations not to be missed.”