The Cuba Street Project by Beth Brash & Alice Lloyd

My last two trips to Wellington have been speedy day trips for very specific reasons. Fly in, attend appointment, fly back out. No time for hanging around, enjoying the sights, no time for Cuba Street. It was tough and I have to say there was a level of me feeling ripped off. Really, what’s a trip to Wellington without a visit to Cuba Street for a bit of shopping or lunch at one of the many cafes?

To make up for missing out on the physical experience, and to torture myself a little, I chose to emmerse myself in The Cuba Street Project by Beth Brash & Alice Lloyd.

As I took a walk along Cuba Street through the pages of this book its history was brought to life. Described as the heart of the city it highlights the people that give it heart and soul, the businesses that are ‘Cuba inspired’ like Havana Coffee and Fidel’s Cafe, and gives a wonderful introduction to how the street grew since its its birth in the mid 1800s. From milk bars to shoe shops, baptisms in the bucket fountain, grungy coffee shops and hipster hang-outs there is something special for everyone on this iconic New Zealand street.

As Cuba Street evolved it has become well known for its many restaurants and cafes, and in keeping with this theme there are wonderful recipes throughout this book for you to enjoy. How to make a decent plunger coffee courtesy of Stories Expresso Bar, potato hash with smoked salmon from Plum and a veritble smorgasbord of other tasty treats.

Discussing this book with friends I discovered many of us have our own special memories of Cuba Street. That awesome handbag that was discovered in the bottom of a box in the opshop after a long walk up the road, the really cool dress found in the other opshop half way up. The marriage proposal that didn’t quite go as planned. A lovely dinner at Floraditas, a nervous beau who decided to wait until outside so as not to make a fuss in the restaurant but didnt count on her taking off after spying something sparkly in another shop window. Calling her back they ended up outside the army surplus store where he quickly proposed before he lost her attention again; this coincided with a drunk staggering up the street leaving an unpleasant deposit on the pavement next to them. Not quite the romantic setting he had in mind but a great Cuba St memory anyway. She said yes.

Reviewed by Carla

Catalogue link: The Cuba Street Project