Cuban Picadillo
Christine is from Tampa, which is why she 1)knows a thing or two about Cuban food and 2)knows the Columbia Restaurant. One of those moments where, pestering her over Gchat, Christine sent an entirely inspired response to my "what should I make for dinner this week?" The answer was a Cuban Picadillo. And Christine was right. Picadillo, or "hash," is a traditional Spanish-influenced dish that usually includes ground beef. The Cuban variety typically involves raisins, olives, and capers, while other national varieties vary incredibly (some including hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, honey and lime, etc.) The dish was simple, but ultimately complex. Like a chili or stew, the leftovers were somehow even better than the original serving. I served mine over fluffy white rice. You might also include some fried plantains for scooping. Other suggestions include using this as taco filling or in croquettes. Its a seriously versatile dish. Of final note: If you don...