While countless Cubans struggle to procure basic necessities like chicken or cooking oil, Sandro Castro, grandson of the infamous dictator Fidel Castro, is once again showcasing his life of luxury on social media. Recently, he shared an Instagram story featuring a nighttime barbecue by the ocean in the upscale neighborhood of Miramar, surrounded by friends, music, and a feast of food, captioned as "Coastal Grill. A Cuban Classic."
The stark contrast between Sandro's opulent lifestyle and the harsh realities faced by millions of Cubans is glaring. While most families in Cuba are forced to stretch their meager rations of rice and sugar, Sandro enjoys a lavish barbecue complete with chicken, drinks, and charcoal—items that are out of reach for the average Cuban citizen.
In the background of the video, the brightly lit Gran Muthu Habana Hotel can be seen, a symbol of the exclusive tourism that persists in the capital city even as the island grapples with one of its most severe energy crises, characterized by daily blackouts and widespread darkness across various provinces.
The grandson of the "statesman" who implemented rationing in 1962 and promised "equality" for all Cubans appears to revel in the inherited privileges of an elite class, isolated from the hunger and scarcity that his family's regime has left behind. His "coastal grill" is not merely a night of revelry; it is a living metaphor for a family shielded from the hunger, shortages, and popular discontent.
As the prices of staple foods continue to skyrocket—with a kilo of chicken surpassing 3,000 Cuban pesos and a liter of oil approaching 4,000—Sandro is seen smiling, holding tongs over the grill, and celebrating what he calls a "classic" of Cuban cuisine. This behavior is just another addition to a long list of frivolous gestures and public provocations. Just weeks ago, he mocked the ration book by calling it "the diary of a vampire," further demonstrating his insensitivity to the suffering endured by the majority.
Sandro's latest barbecue in Miramar serves as a reminder that in the real Cuba, the heirs of power do not stand in lines or count pounds of rice. While the nation plunges into darkness and hunger, they indulge in the luxury of laughter, dining, and posing by the sea.
A "Cuban Classic": Cooking with Wood at Midnight
In today's Cuba, the "classic" culinary experience is no longer rice and beans or traditional congrí, but rather the act of building a fire with wood or charcoal in dire conditions. Due to the persistent shortages of electricity, gas, and charcoal, cooking with wood has become the only viable option for millions of families.
Many Cuban women demonstrate how they improvise stoves on balconies, patios, or even in the street, gathering dry branches or old wood to cook whatever little they have. In Santiago de Cuba, a mother was seen cooking with wood on the street after enduring over 72 hours without electricity or gas.
Sandro's "coastal classic"—a plentiful barbecue by the sea—stands in stark contrast to the reality faced by many families: cooking in the middle of the night when a blackout briefly ends, seizing any opportunity to prepare meals before darkness returns. As one viral account describes, families "carry out all their activities when there is electricity, including cooking for several days."
In extreme cases, the scarcity of charcoal is so severe that some families resort to using doors, windows, or plastics as makeshift fuel, risking exposure to toxic smoke. In Granma, the provincial government distributed wood to allow people to cook amid the charcoal shortage.
This necessity also drives culinary invention: minimalist dishes made with scarce or poor-quality ingredients, just to ensure there is something warm on the table. It is not a creative or cultural choice but a daily survival strategy.
The contrast between the unchecked luxury of those who have never known want and the harsh ingenuity of those who survive through wood fires and blackouts reveals not only a social divide but a tasteless mockery. Amid power outages exceeding 30 hours and food spoiling in powerless refrigerators, Sandro Castro's seaside barbecue in Miramar becomes a symbolic act of provocation.
In this context, the phrase "a Cuban classic" takes on a bitter irony: it does not refer to a shared tradition but rather the normalization of an energy misery that burdens the most vulnerable.
Understanding the Impact of Cuban Food Shortages
What are the main causes of food shortages in Cuba?
The main causes of food shortages in Cuba include government mismanagement, the longstanding effects of the U.S. embargo, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was a major economic supporter. Additionally, systemic inefficiencies and corruption within the state-run economy contribute significantly to the scarcity of goods.
How do Cubans cope with frequent blackouts?
To cope with frequent blackouts, many Cubans resort to cooking with wood or charcoal, often improvising stoves in outdoor spaces. They also plan their activities around the availability of electricity, including cooking and other household tasks, to maximize the limited power supply.