A Day in the Culinary Life of a Cuban: A Satirical Response?

After a video went viral showcasing a young Cuban woman detailing her daily meals, including strawberries from her garden, the social media landscape lit up with criticism from influencers and content creators. While some were quick to condemn, others opted for satire and sarcasm, creating their own videos that starkly highlight the Cuban reality, often appearing laughably out of place.

In her video, content creator Anarelys Abascal opens with, "This is what I eat in a day living in Cuba," before diving into a fantasy menu. "Since I had nothing delicious for breakfast at home, I just strolled to the hotel on the corner to enjoy my coffee, which is a must-have for me, along with some toast," she narrates. In a country where coffee and bread are often luxuries, and hotels are a distant dream for the average Cuban, her words drip with irony.

Continuing the mockery, she adds, "For lunch, I ordered this lobster, which is nothing new since I eat seafood every day because I super love it... I also had this drink that I adore, served by the owner of the restaurant himself because we're super close," emphasizing the irony with a liberal sprinkle of "super."

The comments section was a mixed bag. Some laughed at her creativity, understanding it as a parody, while others, missing the sarcasm, took offense at what they believed to be a serious depiction. Remarks ranged from, "The envious will say it wasn't you," to "My mom said you're my cousin, so I'm coming over for a few days," and "I’m glad you enjoyed that rich moment before waking up from the dream."

For those who grasped the satire, one thing is evident: the reality of daily meals for millions of Cubans is starkly different from Abascal’s humorous portrayal.