The Ecuadorian dish, encebollado, outperformed the Cuban ropa vieja in the round of 16 of the World Food Championship organized by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos. This result highlights more than just a culinary defeat; it underscores the digital disadvantage inflicted by Cuba's ongoing crisis, which may have hindered participation from the island.
According to the results shared by Ibai on Instagram on Monday, Ecuador garnered roughly 1.3 million votes compared to Cuba's 629,000. The video has amassed over 8.5 million views and more than 25,000 comments.
This tournament follows the 2025 "World Breakfast Championship," featuring 16 Latin American countries and Spain in a knockout format with public voting on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This stage of the contest saw a total of 25 million votes across all platforms.
Quarterfinalists Announced
After the round of 16, the eight nations advancing are:
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Peru
- Guatemala
- Ecuador
- Bolivia
- Uruguay
- Argentina
Peru made the most significant impact, becoming the tournament's most popular country with nearly 3 million votes in its match against Honduras. Guatemala also surprised by eliminating Mexico, with 2,101,160 votes to 2,003,340.
The Struggle of Cuban Ropa Vieja: A Triumph or a Defeat?
The 629,000 votes for Cuba sparked a conversation encapsulating the island's paradox. User @yoandryquintero commented on the video: "A country in blackout and without internet, 629k is an achievement."
This comment is not an exaggeration. Cuba faces prolonged power outages and severely limited internet access, conditions that drastically reduce its citizens' ability to participate in such digital voting events.
While countries like Peru or Guatemala can easily mobilize millions of votes, Cubans must navigate through lengthy power cuts and expensive, unstable connectivity.
Yet, the irony of competing in this contest runs deeper. Cuba entered with ropa vieja—a shredded beef stew with onions, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and spices—in a culinary tournament, though in the island, this dish is now almost a fantasy.
The Cuban population lacks access to essential foods like milk, bread, oil, and eggs. Moreover, the sale of beef, a key ingredient in the renowned recipe, was banned for decades in the country.
Currently, legally purchasing beef in Cuba is only feasible if consumers are willing to pay in dollars, rendering it unaffordable for millions of families on the island.
The food crisis in Cuba is so severe that the state cannot even ensure the basic food basket. In June, the Minister of the Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, admitted that oil, chicken, and yogurt were not distributed in 2026. Food items are among the most expensive products amid the country's economic turmoil.
Cuba's Challenges in Digital Participation
Why did Cuba receive fewer votes in the World Food Championship?
Cuba's lower vote count is attributed to its severe power outages and limited internet access, which hinder the ability of its citizens to engage in digital voting events.
What are the main challenges Cuba faces in terms of food availability?
Cuba struggles with a lack of access to basic foods such as milk, bread, oil, and eggs, and beef—which is essential for ropa vieja—is particularly inaccessible due to economic conditions.