about us

"Like stones rolling down a hill, fair ideas reach their objective despite all obstacles and barriers. It may be possible to speed or hinder them, but impossible to stop them."
- Jose Marti, Statesman, Poet, Visionary and Cuban Revolutionary

The three founders of Soul de Cuba Cafe are Jesus Puerto, Robert Puerto, and Yoon Kim. Visions of the Soul de Cuba restaurant concept first came to Jesus Puerto in the mid 1980's while attending college in Ybor City, Florida. Just outside of Tampa, Ybor City is rich with a history of pioneering Cuban, Italian and Spanish immigrants and is where Jesus' great grandfather, Santiago Gonzalez of Guanabacoa, Cuba, first settled his family in the early part of the nineteenth century. Cubans had begun immigrating to Ybor City as a result of the flourishing cigar industry. Many of the Cubans of African decent, including the Gonzalez family, brought with them traditional methods of preparing food and traditional ideas regarding spirituality.

It was after his 1991 layoff in the wake of Eastern Airlines' collapse that Jesus decided to invest in his vision by enrolling in a two-year restaurant management course. Robert Puerto, Jesus' brother, soon bought into the dream and sparked his career in the restaurant industry.

"Let go and let God, Allah, Buddah, Obatala or whoever is in charge ... 'cause it surely ain't me...."
- Jesus Puerto, Co-Founder, Soul de Cuba Cafe

On Easter weekend 1993, Jesus was diagnosed with spinal meningitis. Doctors gave him a few hours to live and advised his family that the slight chance of survival would come at a cost -- loss of sight or hearing, or even mental impairment. In what doctors described as "without scientific explanation," "a miracle" and "lucky," Jesus survived and recovered without complications. In the Afro-Cuban tradition of spirituality practitioners believe the duties of miraculous healing are taken on by the Orisha (deity), Babalu Aye. While in recovery, realizing his tremendous fortune, Jesus made a promise to dedicate his life to service and human enhancement. Though at first it wasn't clear how, his will and perseverance helped to enlighten the path.

Jesus went on to earn a degree in International Relations then began a career in community development by serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, a United Nations Volunteer, and as a Charter Board Member and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Western Samoa. He also worked in the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he served as country officer for Peace Corps programs in the Caribbean and Central America. Before opening the first Soul de Cuba Cafe he was recruited to work in New Haven, Connecticut by Paul Newman's Association of Hole In The Wall Camps to develop and support programs and activities in Thailand, southern Africa and Japan.

"Make of your life a bell that rings or a furrow in which the glowing trees of ideas flow and bear fruit."
- Nicholas Guillen, Afo-Cuban Poet

By 2005, Robert, had spent more than 10 years in the foodservice industry and worked in critically acclaimed establishments like "Pearl" and "Nemos," in South Beach, Miami. He was a captain of the corporate training team for Romano's Macaroni Grill (2000-2002). From 2002 to 2004, Robert held the position as executive chef at the Macaroni Grill in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In the summer of 2004 Jesus met restaurateur Yoon Kim. From childhood Yoon assisted in the management and operations of his family's restaurant and was a graduate of the highly accredited Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After they befriended, Yoon shared with Jesus that he was interested in working on a project outside the family business. Within a few days, Jesus received a call from Robert asking whether he was ready to revisit his dream of ten years earlier to start a restaurant. Was it synergy? Was it the work of the Orishas again? Either way, the three believed they were destined to collaborate and Soul de Cuba Cafe New Haven opened its doors less than six months later in January 2005. A year later, in July of 2006, Soul de Cuba Cafe opened its doors in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Thanks to karma, the Orishas and customers like you, Jesus, Yoon and Robert stand proudly on the corner of Crown and High Streets in New Haven and across from the Hawaii Theatre on Bethel Street in Honolulu selling rice and beans to anyone interested in indulging.

The Soul de Cuba concept is rooted in the idea of promoting and preserving Afro-Cuban culture through sharing traditional Cuban and African food and art. The concept begins in a cozy dining-room setting that incorporates Cuban memorabilia, family photos, and Afro-Cuban religious artwork displayed over soft, earth toned painted walls. The ambiance is enhanced by the infusion of Cuban Salsa, Boleros, and Son music as well as traditional Yoruba Rhythms and African and American Jazz.